Science Vocabulary Cards - Cellular Structures

1. Cell (Noun)
The smallest unit of a living organism (PLANT
OR ANIMAL).
“I am made up of
cells!”

2. Tissue (Noun)
A group of cells that perform one function.
“My cells form
many tissues
in my body!”

3. Prokaryotic Cell
Single-celled organisms with no nucleus. They
were the first life forms on Earth.
“The bacteria in my
body are
prokaryotic
cells!”

4. Eukaryotic Cell
Plant and animal cells that have a nucleus,
membrane, and organelles.
“A tree and I are made
of eukaryotic cells! ”

5. Organelle (Noun)
A structure inside a cell that performs one
function.
“A cell has many organelles
working inside it.”

6. Nucleus (Noun)
An organelle that controls cell’s activities. The
“boss”…
“The nucleus of a
cell is like the
brain in my body!”

7. Nucleolus (Noun)
Produces and stores RNA of the cell inside the
nucleus.
“The nucleus has a
nucleolus inside!”

8. Chromosome (Noun)
Chromosomes are rod-shaped structures found in
the nucleus and made up of DNA molecules.
“Chromosomes can be
found in the nucleus of a
cell.”

9. DNA Molecules
Genetic material that contain and store
instructions for the cell’s activities.
“DNA molecules are
found in the cell’s
chromosomes.”

10. RNA Molecules
Genetic material that processes instructions of
DNA molecules in the ribosomes.
“RNA molecules make
proteins in ribosomes using
DNA molecules.”

11. Ribosome (Noun)
Ribosomes are organelles that make proteins using
RNA molecules inside chromosomes.
“Ribosomes make
the cell’s proteins.”

12. Endoplasmic Reticulum
An organelle that transports proteins inside the
cell.
“The
endoplasmic
reticulum
moves proteins
inside a cell.”

13. Golgi Body
An organelle that creates a layer around proteins
before they leave the cell.
“Proteins are
protected by the
golgi body
before they exit a
cell.”

14. Lysosome (Noun)
Lysosomes are organelles that use enzymes to
break down proteins.
“Proteins inside a cell are
broken down by
lysosomes.”

15. Vacuole (Noun)
Vacuaoles are organelles where proteins are stored
before they are broken down by lysosomes.
“Proteins are kept in
vacuoles before
they are used by
lysosomes.”

16. Mitochondrion
(Noun)
Mitochondria are organelles that make energy for
the cell from food.
“The
mitochondria
are like a cell’s
factories.”

17. Cytoplasm (Noun)
A jelly-like fluid that surrounds the nucleus where
all the cell’s activities take place.
“Organelles are found
in the cell’s
cytoplasm.”

18. Cell Membrane
The outer covering of a cell that decides what goes
in and out.
“Proteins enter and leave a
cell through the cell
membrane.”

19. Cell Wall
A hard structure found only in plant cells that give
them their shape.
“Plants are hard
because their cells
have cell walls.”

20. Chloroplast (Noun)
Chloroplasts are organelles found only in plants
that contain chlorophyll.
“Plants are green
because their cells
have chloroplasts.”