Cell Organelles: Functions, Structures, and Types in Animal and Plant Cells

Organelle

a structure within a cell with a specific function

Cell Membrane (Animal Cells)

surrounds the cell and protects it. Controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Cell Wall (Plants)

tough outer layer that surrounds plant cells

Cytosol

the fluid inside cells

Nucleus

controls the cell's activities, contains DNA

Nucleolus

makes ribosomes

Ribosomes

build proteins, may be free floating or attached to the Endoplasmic Reticulum.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

made up of two parts: Smooth and Rough

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

makes lipids, steroids, breaks down toxins, releases calcium

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

covered with ribosomes, stores proteins for later transport

Golgi Body

an organelle that processes, packages and transports materials produced in the cell.

Vacuoles (Plants)

large membrane bound structures that act as storage compartments and keep cell firm by pushing against cell walls

Vacuoles (Animals)

smaller transport sacs

Lysosomes

organelles that contain enzymes that digest other molecules

Mitochondria

site of cellular respiration which produces energy

Cristae

folds of inner membrane increase surface area = more reactions

Matrix

fluid where reactions occur

Chloroplasts

photosynthetic organelles, uses sunlight energy to make sugars

Cytoskeleton

provides cell structure, helps with cell division, allows organelles to move

Microtubule

support tube made of tubulin proteins that form scaffolding for support when needed

Microfilament

structure made of actin proteins used in muscles for movement and help strengthen cells

Cilium (cilia pl.)

microtubules used for movement/transporting substances

Flagellum (Flagella pl.)

long tail-like microtubules used for movement

Pseudopods

limb like structures formed by amoeba that help cell change shape to move/engulf food