Ch. 6The Cell – Vocabulary
Name:____________________
Chapter 6 Vocabulary - write out each definition on a separate sheet of paper.
1. cell theory -
17. hypertonic -
2. micrograph -
18. hypotonic -
3. organelle -
19. isotonic -
4. plasma membrane -
20. active transport -
5. nucleus -
21. vesicle -
6. cytoplasm -
22. exocytosis -
7. cell wall -
23. endocytosis -
8. prokaryotic cell -
24. nuclear envelope -
9. eukaryotic cell -
25. nucleolus -
10. phospholipid bilayer -
26. ribosome -
11. diffusion -
27. endoplasmic reticulum -
12. equilibrium -
28. Golgi apparatus -
13. selectively permeable membrane -
29. vacuole -
14. passive transport -
30. lysosome -
15. facilitated diffusion -
31. chloroplast -
16. osmosis -
32. mitochondria 33. ATP 34. microtubule 35. microfilament 36. flagella 37. cilia -
Ch. 6The Cell – Vocabulary
Name:____________________
1. cell theory: generalization that all living things are composed of cells, and that cells are the
basic unit of structure and function in living things (Concept 6.1)
2. micrograph: photograph of the view through a microscope (Concept 6.1)
3. organelle: part of a cell with a specific function (Concept 6.1)
4. plasma membrane: thin outer boundary of a cell that regulates the traffic of chemicals
between the cell and its surroundings (Concept 6.1)
5. nucleus: in an atom, the central core that contains protons and neutrons (Concept 4.2); in a
cell, the part that houses the cell's genetic material in the form of DNA (Concept 6.1)
6. cytoplasm: region of a cell between the nucleus and the plasma membrane (Concept 6.1)
7. cell wall: strong wall outside a plant cell's plasma membrane that protects the cell and
maintains its shape (Concept 6.1)
8. prokaryotic cell: cell lacking a nucleus and most other organelles (Concepts 1.2, 6.1)
9. eukaryotic cell: cell with a nucleus (surrounded by its own membrane) and other internal
organelles (Concepts 1.2, 6.1)
10. phospholipid bilayer: two-layer "sandwich" of molecules that surrounds a cell (Concept
6.2)
11. diffusion: net movement of the particles of a substance from where they are more
concentrated to where they are less concentrated (Concept 6.3)
12. equilibrium: point at which the number of diffusing molecules moving in one direction is
equal to the number moving in the opposite direction (Concept 6.3)
13. selectively permeable membrane: membrane that allows some substances to pass more
easily than others and blocks the passage of some substances altogether (Concept 6.3)
14. passive transport: diffusion across a membrane requiring only the random motion of
molecules with no energy expended by the cell (Concept 6.3)
15. facilitated diffusion: pathway provided by transport proteins that helps certain molecules
pass through a membrane (Concept 6.3)
16. osmosis: passive transport of water across a selectively permeable membrane (Concept 6.3)
17. hypertonic: having a higher concentration of solute than another solution (Concept 6.3)
18. hypotonic: having a lower concentration of solute than another solution (Concept 6.3)
Ch. 6The Cell – Vocabulary
Name:____________________
19 isotonic: having a solute concentration equal to that of another solution (Concept 6.3)
20. active transport: movement of molecules across a membrane requiring energy to be
expended by the cell (Concept 6.3)
21. vesicle: small membrane-bound sac that functions in moving products into, out of, and
within a cell (Concept 6.3)
22. exocytosis: process of exporting proteins from a cell by a vesicle fusing with the plasma
membrane and spilling the proteins outside the cell (Concept 6.3)
23. endocytosis: process of taking material into a cell within vesicles that bud inward from the
plasma membrane (Concept 6.3)
24. nuclear envelope: double membrane that surrounds a cell nucleus (Concept 6.4)
25. nucleolus: ball-like mass of fibers and granules in a cell nucleus (Concept 6.4)
26. ribosome: cluster of proteins and nucleic acids that constructs proteins in a cell (Concept
6.4)
27. endoplasmic reticulum: network of membranes within a cell's cytoplasm that produces a
variety of molecules (Concept 6.4)
28. Golgi apparatus: cellular organelle that modifies, stores, and routes cell products (Concept
6.4)
29. vacuole: membrane-bound sac that buds from the endoplasmic reticulum or the Golgi
apparatus (Concept 6.4)
30. lysosome: membrane-bound sac containing digestive enzymes that can break down proteins,
nucleic acids, and polysaccharides (Concept 6.4)
31. chloroplast: organelle found in some plant cells and certain unicellular organisms where
photosynthesis takes place (Concepts 6.5, 8.1)
32. mitochondria: cellular organelles where cellular respiration occurs (Concept 6.5)
33. ATP: (adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work
(Concepts 6.5, 7.3)
34. microtubule: straight, hollow tube of proteins that gives rigidity, shape, and organization to
a cell (Concept 6.6)
35. microfilament: solid rod of protein, thinner than a microtubule, that enables a cell to move
or change shape (Concept 6.6)
36. flagella: long, thin, whip-like structures, with a core of microtubules, that enable some cells
to move (Concept 6.6)
37. cilia: short structures projecting from a cell and containing bundles of microtubules that
move a cell through its surroundings or move fluid over the cell's surface (Concept 6.6)