Plant cells

cell wall

A layer of non-living material found outside the cell membrane.

It is made up of a carbohydrate called cellulose.

Gives the cell extra support and defines its shape and prevents bursting.

cell membrane

Is the thin outer boundary of the cell.

Controls what enters and leaves the cell.

It separates the cell from its external environment.

cytoplasm

Site of many chemical reactions in the cell.

It is a jelly-like living material that makes up a cell and exists in the cell membrane.

It is made of water with dissolved substances (solutes).

It has many structures in it called organelles.

nucleus

Controls the activities of the cell.

Contains chromosomes which carry genetic material – genes.

The DNA remains in the nucleus but the instructions to make the proteins are carried out of the nucleus into the cytoplasm. The proteins are assembled on the ribosomes.

chloroplasts

Absorb light energy to make food in the process of photosynthesis.

Contain a green pigment – chlorophyll.

Therefore parts of a plant that are not green have no chloroplasts.

ribosomes

In a cell, 1000’s of tiny ribosomes are the site of protein synthesis.

They read the cell’s instructions and join amino acids together to make proteins.

mitochondria

Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration of the cell.

They are the energy-producing organelles.

They release energy for the cell.

permanent vacuole

Permanent feature of the cell, filled with cell sap (watery liquid), which is a store of dissolved sugars, mineral ions and other solutes.