Year 7 Science: Cells Revised May, 2021
Cells: Vocabulary
Word Meaning
Microscope Instrument used to make very small things look bigger
Cell The smallest unit of a living thing that can remain alive; the ‘building blocks’ of a
living thing
Organelle Smaller, specialised structure within a cell
Nucleus Large, dark component in a cell which controls what it does; contains DNA
Cell membrane Thin layer that surrounds a cell; it controls what goes in and out of the cell
Cytosol The jelly-like fluid that fills a cell
Cytoplasm The cytosol and the organelles in it
Mitochondrion Organelle which carries out cellular respiration to provide energy for cell
(plural is mitochondria)
Ribosome Tiny organelle which makes proteins
Vacuole Organelle that may store food, water or wastes
Aerobic cellular respiration A chemical reaction with oxygen that releases energy stored in glucose
Unicellular organism A living thing made up of only one cell
Multicellular organism A living thing made up of many cells
Tissue A group of identical cells which perform the same function
Organ A group of tissues that work together to complete a common task
Organ system A group of organs that work together to achieve a common purpose
Year 7 Science: Cells Revised May, 2021
Cells: Vocabulary
Word Meaning
Microscope Instrument used to make very small things look bigger
Cell The smallest unit of a living thing that can remain alive; the ‘building blocks’ of a
living thing
Organelle Smaller, specialised structure within a cell
Nucleus Large, dark component in a cell which controls what it does; contains DNA
Cell membrane Thin layer that surrounds a cell; it controls what goes in and out of the cell
Cytosol The jelly-like fluid that fills a cell
Cytoplasm The cytosol and the organelles in it
Mitochondrion Organelle which carries out cellular respiration to provide energy for cell
(plural is mitochondria)
Ribosome Tiny organelle which makes proteins
Vacuole Organelle that may store food, water or wastes
Aerobic cellular respiration A chemical reaction with oxygen that releases energy stored in glucose
Unicellular organism A living thing made up of only one cell
Multicellular organism A living thing made up of many cells
Tissue A group of identical cells which perform the same function
Organ A group of tissues that work together to complete a common task
Organ system A group of organs that work together to achieve a common purpose