Vocabulary
cell The smallest unit of an organism that is still considered living; the basic unit that
make up every type of organism.
cell wall Provides strength and protection for the cell; found around plant, fungal, and
bacterial cells.
central vacuole Large organelle containing water, nutrients, and wastes that can take up
to 90% of a plant cell’s volume.
chloroplast Green organelle that captures solar energy and stores the energy in sugars
through the process of photosynthesis; chloroplasts are found only in cells that perform
photosynthesis.
chromosome The cell structure in eukaryotic cells containing the genes; made of DNA
and protein. Human cells have 23 pairs of chromosomes.
cytoplasm All the contents of the cell besides the nucleus, including the cytosol and the
organelles.
cytoskeleton The internal scaffolding of the cell; maintains the cell shape and aids in
moving the parts of the cell.
cytosol A fluid-like substance inside the cell; organelles are embedded in the cytosol.
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Afoldedmembraneorganelle; roughERmodifiesproteins
and smooth ER makes lipids.
eukaryotic cell CellbelongingtothedomainEukarya(fungi,animals,protists,andplants);
has a membrane-enclosed nucleus and various organelles.
golgi apparatus The organelle where proteins are modified, labeled, packaged into vesi-
cles, and shipped.
homeostasis The ability to maintain a stable internal environment separate from the ex-
ternal environment.
lysosome Organelle which contains enzymes that break down unneeded materials.