Organelles

cell membrane

Controls what goes in and out of the cell; maintains a stable internal environment.

cytoskeleton

Gives cell shape; provides structural support for animal cells and can move organelles around.

cytoplasm

Holds everything in place; solution for chemical reactions to take place.

nucleus

Protects the DNA that controls the activities of the cell.

ribosomes

Make proteins in a process called translation.

Golgi apparatus

Gets vesicles of protein from the ER; processes, sorts, and ships proteins where needed.

vacuole

Function as storage.

mitochondria

Where cellular respiration occurs; breaks down chemical energy in food to release usable energy in the form of ATP.

chloroplast

[Plant cells only] Where photosynthesis occurs; converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy in sugar.

cell wall

[Plant cells only] Protects and maintains shape.