Active Transport(AK-tiv TRANZ-port)[act-move, -ive relating to; trans-across, -port carry]
movement of a substance into and out of a living cell requiring the use of cellular energy
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)(ah-DEN-oh-seen try-FOS-fayt)[adenos-shorthand from adenine-ribose, -ine chemical; tri-three, -phosph-phosphorus, -ate oxygen]
chemical compound that provides energy for use by body cells
Anaphase(AN-ah-fayz)[ana-apart, -phase stage]
stage of mitosis; duplicate chromosomes move to poles of dividing cells
Apoptosis(app-oh-TOH-sis or app-op-TOH-sis)[apo-away, -ptosis falling]
programmed cell death by means of several biochemical processes built into each cell; apoptosis clears space for newer cells, as in early embryonic development or in tissue repair
Benign Tumor(bee-NYNE TOO-mer)[benign-king]
a relatively harmless neoplasm
Centriole(SEN-tree-ohl)[centr-center, -ole small]
one of a pair of tiny cylinders in the centrosome of a cell; believed to be involved with the spindle fibers formed during mitosis
Centromere(SEN-troh-meer)[centr-center, -mere part]
a beadlike structure that attaches one chromatid to another during the early stages of mitosis
Centrosome(SEN-troh-sohm)[centr-center, -som body]
area of the cytoplasm near the nucleus that coordinates the building and breaking up of microtubules in the cell; contains centrioles
Chromatid(KROH-mah-tid)[chrom-color, -id structure or body]
either of two replicated chromatin (DNA) strands within a chromosome of a cell ready to divide
Chromatin Granule(KROH-mah-tin GRAN-yool)[chrom-color, -in substance; gran-grain, -ule little]
easily stained substance in the nucleus of cells made up of DNA strands wound around spools of protein; condenses into chromosomes during mitosis
Chromosome (KROH-meh-sohm)[chrom-color, -som body]
DNA molecule that has coiled to form a compact mass during mitosis or meiosis; each chromosome is composed of regions called genes, each of which transmits hereditary information
Cilium(SIL-ee-um) plural (SIL-ee-ah)[cili-eyelid, -um thing]
see cilia
Cleavage Furrow(KLEE-vij FUR-oh)[cleav-split, -age state; furrow-trench]
depression in the parent cell surface during cell division; appears at the end of anaphase and begins to divide the cell into two daughter cells
Codon(KOH-don)[cod-book, -on thing]
in RNA, a triplet of three base pairs that codes for a particular amino acid; subunit of a protein-coding gene
Complementary Base Pairing(kom-pleh-MEN-tah-ree bays PAIR-ing)[comple-complete, -ment-process, -ary relating to]
bonding of purines and pyridines in DNA; adenine always bonds with thymine, and cytosine always bonds with guanine
Crenation(kreh-NAY-shun)[crenat-scalloped or notched, -ation process]
abnormal notching in an erythrocyte resulting from shrinkage after suspension in a hypertonic solution
Cytokinesis(sye-toh-kin-EE-sis)[cyto-cell, -kinesis movement]
process by which a dividing cell splits into cytoplasm and plasma membrane into two distinct daughter cells; cytokinesis happens along with mitosis(or meiosis) during the cell division process
Cytoplasm(SYE-toh-plaz-em)[cyto-cell, -plasm to mold]
the gel-like substance of a cell exclusive of the nucleus and other organelles
Cytoskeleton(sye-toh-SKEL-eh-ton)[cyto-cell, -skeleto dried body]
cell's internal supporting, moving framework
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)(dee-ok-see-rye-boh-nook-lay-ik AS-id)[de-removed, -oxy-oxygen, -nucle-nucleus(kernel), -ic relating to; acid-sour]
genetic material of the cell that carries the chemical "blueprint" of the body
Dialysis(dye-AL-ih-sis)[dia-apart, -lysis loosening]
separation of smaller (diffusible) particles from larger (non-diffusible) particles through a semipermeable membrane
Differentiate(dif-er-EN-shee-ayt)[different-difference, -ate action]
a process by which daughter cells become different in structure and function (by using different genes from the genome shared by all cells of the body), as when some of the original cells of early developmental stages differentiate to become muscle cells and other cells become nerve cells, and so on (differentiation is another form of this term)
Diffusion(dih-FYOO-shun)[dis-apart, -fus-flow, -tion process]
spreading; for example, scattering of dissolved particles
DNA Replication(dee en ay rep-lih-KAY-shun)[re-again, -plic-fold, -ation process]
the unique ability of DNA molecules to make copies of themselves
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)(en-doh-PLAZ-mik reh-TIK-yoo-lum)[endo-inward or within, -plasm-to mold, -ic relating to; ret-net, -ic-relating to, -ul-little, -um thing]
network of tubes and vesicles in cytoplasm
Filtration(fil-TRAY-shun)[filtr-strain, -ation process]
movement of water and solutes through a membrane by a higher hydrostatic pressure on one side
Flagellum (flah-JEL-um) plural flagella (flah-JEL-ah)[flagellum-whip]
a single projection extending from the cell surface; the only example in humans is the "tail" of the male sperm
Gene(jeen)[gen-produce or generate]
one of many segments of chromosome (DNA molecule); each gene contains the genetic code for synthesizing a protein molecule such as an enzyme or hormone
Genetic Counselor(jeh-NET-ik KOWN-sel-er)[gene-produce, -ic relating to]
science professional who consults with families regarding genetic diseases
Genetic Engineer (jeh-NET-ik en-juh-NEER)[gene-produce, -ic relating to; engin-devise or design, -eer practitioner]
someone who specializes in manipulating the genetic code
Genetics(jeh-NET-iks)[gene-produce, -ic relating to]
the science of hereditary and genetic information
Genome(JEE-nohm)[gen-produce(gene), -ome entire collection]
the entire set of chromosomes in a cell; the human genome refers to the entire set of human chromosomes
Golgi Apparatus (GOL-jee ap-ah-RA-tus)[Camillo Golgi-Italian hisologist]
small sacs stacked on one another near the nucleus that make carbohydrate compounds, combines them with protein molecules, and packages the product in a globule
Hypertonic(hye-per-TON-ik)[hyper-excessive, -ton-tension, -ic relating to]
a solution containing a higher level of salt (NaCl) than is found in a living red blood cell (above 0.9% NaCl)
Hypotonic(hye-poh-TON-ik)[hypo-under or below, -ton-tension, -ic relating to]
a solution containing a lower level of salt (NaCl) than is found in a living red blood cell (below 0.9% NaCl)
Interphase(IN-ter-fayz)[inter-between, -phase stage]
the phase immediately before the visible stages of cell division, when the DNA of each chromosome replicates itself
Interstitial Fluid (IF)(in-ter-STISH-al FLOO-id)[inter-between, -stit-stand, -al relating to]
fluid located in the microscopic spaces between the cells
Isotonic(eye-soh-TON-ik)[iso-equal, -ton-tension, -ic relating to]
relating to the same pressure or tension; for example, isotonic solutions have the same osmotic pressure
Lyse(lyze)[lysis-loosening]
disintegration of a cell
Lysosome(LYE-soh-sohm)[lyso-dissolution, -som body]
membranous organelles containing various enzymes that can dissolve most cellular compounds; hence called digestive bags or suicide bags of cells
Malignant Tumor(mah-LIG-nant TOO-mer)[malign-bad, -ant state; tumor-swelling]
...
Messenger RNA (mRNA)(MES-en-jer ar en ay)[RNA-ribonucleic acid]
a duplicate copy of a gene sequence on the DNA that passes from the nucleus to the cytoplasm
Metaphase(MET-ah-fayz)[meta-change(place), -phase stage]
second stage of mitosis, during which the nuclear envelope and nucleus disappear
Microvillus(my-kroh-VIL-us) plural microvilli (my-kroh-VIL-ay or my-krohVIL-ee)[micro-small, -villus shaggy hair]
small, moving cell extensions that form the brush-like border made up of epithelial cells found on each villus in the small intestine; increase the surface area for absorption of nutrients
Mitochondrion(my-toh-KON-dree-on) plural mitochondria (my-toh-KON-dree-ah)[mito-thread, -chondrion granule]
tiny membranous organelles where much of a cell's ATP is generated in the presence of oxygen
Mitosis(my-TOH-sis)[mitos-thread, -osis process]
indirect cell division involving complex changes in the nucleus
Neoplasm(NEE-oh-plaz-em)[neo-new, -plasm formation]
an abnormal mass of proliferating cells that may be either benign or malignant
Nuclear Envelope(NOO-klee-ar)[nucleo-nucleus(kernel), -ar relating to]
double membrane that surrounds the cell nucleus
Nucleolus(noo-KLEE-oh-lus)[nucleo-nucleus(kernel), -olus little]
critical to protein formation because it "programs" the formation of ribosomes in the nucleus
Nucleoplasm(NOO-klee-oh-plaz-im)[nucleo-nucleus(kernel), -plasm substance]
a special type of cytoplasm found in the nucleus
Nucleus(NOO-klee-us)[nucleus-kernel]
spherical structure within a cell; a group of neuron cell bodies in the brain or spinal cord; central core of the atom, made up of protons and (sometimes) neutrons
Organelle(or-gah-NEL)[organ-tool or instrument, -elle small]
cell organ; for example, the ribosome
Osmosis(os-MOH-sis)[osmos-push, -osis process]
type of passive movement of water (only) through a semipermeable membrane
Passive Transport(PAS-iv TRANZ-port)[pass-submit, -ive relating to; trans-across, -port carry]
cellular process in which substances move through a cellular membrane with their own energy
Phagocytosis(fag-oh-sye-TOH-sis)[phago-eat, -cyte-cell, -osis process]
ingestion and digestion of particles by a cell
Phospholipid(fos-foh-LIP-id)[phospho-phosphorus, -lip-fat, -id form]
phosphate-containing lipid molecule found in cell membranes; one end of the molecule is water-soluble and the other end is lipid-soluble
Pinocytosis(pin-oh-sye-TOH-sis)[pino-drink, -cyto-cell, -osis process]
the active transport mechanism used to transfer fluids or dissolved substances into cells
Plasma Membrane(PLAZ-mah)[plasma-substance; membrane-thin skin]
membrane that separates the contents of a cell from the tissue fluid; encloses the cytoplasm and forms the outer boundary of the cell
Prophase(PROH-fayz)[pro-first, -phase stage]
first stage of mitosis during which chromosomes become visible
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)(rye-boh-noo-KLAY-ik AS-id)[ribo-ribose(sugar), nucle-nucleus, -ic pertaining to; acid-sour]
a nucleic acid found in the cytoplasm that is crucial to protein synthesis
Ribosome(RYE-boh-sohm)[ribo-ribose or RNA, -som-body]
organelle in the cytoplasm of cells that synthesizes proteins; also known as a protein factory
Semipermeable(sem-ee-PERM-ee-ah-bil)[semi-half, -per-through, -mea(t)-pass, -able capable of]
adjective used to describe a membrane that allows only certain substances to move through (permeate) it; compare to selectively permeable
Sodium-Potassium Pump(SOH-dee-um poh-TAS-ee-um)[sod-soda, -um thing or substance; potass-potash, -um thing or substance]
a system of coupled ion pumps that actively transports sodium ions out of a cell and potassium ion into the cell at the same time; found in all living cells; also called the Na-K pump
Solute(SOL-yoot)[solut-dissolved]
substance that dissolves into another substance; for example, in saltwater the salt is the solute dissolved in water
Spindle Fiber(SPIN-dul FYE-ber)
a network of tubules formed in the cytoplasm between the centrioles as they are moving away from each other
Stem Cell(stem sel)[stem-tree trunk; cell-storeroom]
ancestor cell that has the ability to maintain a constant population of newly differentiating cells
Telophase(TEL-oh-fayz or TEE-loh-fayz)[telo-end, -phase stage]
last stage of mitosis in which the cell divides
Transcription(tranz-KRIP-shun)[trans-across, -script-write, -tion process]
occurs when the double-stranded DNA molecules unwind and form mRNA
Transfer RNA (tRNA)(TRANZ-fer ar en ay)[trans-across, -fer carry]
RNA involved with protein synthesis; tRNA molecules carry amino acids to the ribosome for placement in the sequence prescribed by mRNA
Translation(tranz-LAY-shun)[translat-bring over, -tion process]
the synthesis of a protein by ribosomes
Transport Process(TRANZ-port PROH-ses)[trans-across, -port carry]
process of carrying materials within the body, often across membranes and within fluids
Vesicle(VES-ih-kul)[vesic-blister, -cle little]
any tiny membranous bubble within a cell