CH. 7 STUDY GUIDE: CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
KEY TERMS
prokaryotic cell
ribosomes
plastids
eukaryotic cell
free ribosomes
leucoplast
cytosol
bound ribosomes
chromoplast
organelle
polysomes
chloroplast
nucleus
endomembrane system
vacuoles
procaryotic cells
endoplasmic
reticulum(ER)
cytoskeleton
eucaryotic cells
microfilaments
rough ER
chromosomes
microtubules
smooth ER
chromatin
microtrabecular lattice
Golgi apparatus
genes
centrioles
lysosome
nucleolus
basal bodies
microbodies
nuclear envelope
flagella
peroxisomes
endoplasmic
reticulum(rough and
smooth)
cilia
mitochondria
endosymbiotic hypothesis
WORD ROOTS
centro - = the center; - soma = a body (centrosome: material present in the cytoplasm of all
eukaryotic cells and important during cell division)
chloro - = green (chloroplast: the site of photosynthesis in plants and eukaryotic algae)
cili - = hair (cilium: a short hair-like cellular appendage with a microtubule core)
cyto - = cell (cytosol: a semifluid medium in a cell in which are located the organelles)
-ell = small (organelle: a small formed body with a specialized function found in the cytoplasm of
eukarytoic cells)
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endo - = inner (endomembrane system: the system of membranes within a cell that includes the
nuclear envelope, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, lysosomes, vacuoles, and the plasma
membrane)
eu - = true (eukaryotic cell: a cell that has a true nucleus)
extra- = outside (extracellular matrix: the substance in which animal tissue cells are embedded)
flagell - = whip (flagellum: a long whip-like cellular appendage that moves cells)
glyco - = sweet (glycoprotein: a protein covalently bonded to a carbohydrate)
lamin - = sheet/layer (nuclear lamina: a netlike array of protein filaments that maintains the shape
of the nucleus)
lyso - = loosen (lysosome: a membrane-bounded sac of hydrolytic enzymes that a cell uses to
digest macromolecules)
micro - = small; - tubul = a little pipe (microtubule: a hollow rod of tubulin protein in the
cytoplasm of almost all eukaryotic cells)
nucle - = nucleus; - oid = like (nucleoid: the region where the genetic material is concentrated in
prokaryotic cells)
phago - = to eat; - kytos = vessel (phagocytosis: a form of cell eating in which a cell engulfs a
smaller organism or food particle)
plasm - = molded; - desma = a band or bond (plasmodesmata: an open channel in a plant cell
wall)
pro - = before; karyo - = nuclues (prokaryotic cell: a cell that has no nucleus)
pseudo - = false; - pod = foot (pseudopodium: a cellular extension of amoeboid cells used in
moving and feeding)
thylaco - = sac or pouch (thylakoid: a series of flattened sacs within chloroplasts)
tono - = stretched; - plast = molded (tonoplast: the membrane that encloses a large central
vacuole in a mature plant cell)
trans - = across; - port = a harbor (transport vesicle: a membranous compartment used to
enclose and transport materials from one part of a cell to another)
ultra - = beyond (ultracentrifuge: a machine that spins test tubes at the fastest speeds to
separate liquids and particles at different densities)
vacu - = empty (vacuole: sac that buds from the ER, Golgi, or plasma membrane)
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QUESTIONS
1. For each of the organelles listed below, describe its structure; give a major
function; indicate whether it is surrounded by a single membrane, a double
membrane or no membrane; and state whether it is found in plant, animal or
bacterial cells.
nucleus
mitochondrion
microfilaments
nucleolus
lysosome
microtrabecular lattice
endoplasmic reticulum
plastids(chromoplasts
and leucoplasts)
centriole
ribosome
basal bodies
vacuole
Golgi apparatus
cilia and flagella
microtubules
2. Explain the importance of membranes and compartmentalization to cells.
3. Why are cells limited to a size smaller than 100m?
4. Explain why cells are microscopic, i.e. less than 100 micrometers in diameter.
5. Describe the similarities in structure of mitochondria and chloroplasts. How are
these similarities related to the functions of theses organelles?
6. List four differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Which of these
were the first cells on earth.
7. Describe the Margulis endosymbiotic hypothesis and give three lines of
evidence which support this hypothesis.
8. A prokaryotic algae Prochloron was recently discovered. This algae contains
both chlorophyll a and b, no other prokaryotic organisms contain both of these
photosynthetic pigments, but all photosynthetic eukaryotes contain chlorophyll a
and b. Explain why Lynn Margulis and other supporters of the endosymbiotic
hypothesis were happy when they heard of this discovery.
9. Describe the differences between procaryotes and eucaryotes; on the
evolutionary time scale which came first procaryotes or eucaryotes?
10. Outline the similarities and differences of plant and animal cells.
11. Describe the basic structure of cilia and flagella in eukaryotes. Include a
drawing of their cross section.
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12. Draw and label the parts of a mitochondrion and chloroplast.
13. Describe the structural arrangement and function of the membranes
associated with each of the following eukaryotic organelles.
a. Mitochondrion
c. Chloroplast
b. Endoplasmic reticulum
d. Golgi apparatus
14. The endomembrane system consists of a group of membranous subcellular
structures. Which organelles are a part of this system? How do these parts of the
endomembrane system interact to carry out their combined functions?
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