Cell Organelles

Centrioles

This organelle plays a critical role in cell division by controlling the separation of chromosomes during this process. This helps each new cell get the correct number of chromosomes.

Mitochrondria

This organelle is responsible for converting the chemical energy in food to usable energy in the form of ATP.

Cytoplasm

This part of the cell is mostly water and its function is to help hold all of the other organelles in place within the cell using its jelly-like fluid.

Ribosome

A cell has many of these organelles that are responsible for making proteins that a cell might use for itself, or send outside to be used by other cells within an organism.

Lysosome

Contains digestive enzymes for breaking down substances; these substances could be harmful molecules or just old cell organelle parts that can be reused by the cell.

Rough ER

This is another place for protein production, as well as preparing them for their journey to another organelle. This job is accomplished with the help of transport vesicles.

Vacuole

If a cell needs to store various types of materials, this is the structure that it will utilize to accomplish that task.

Smooth ER

This organelle specializes in the synthesis of lipids, breaking down glycogen, and even stores some ions like calcium.

Cell Membrane

It’s all about control with this organelle; it is responsible for determining what substances are allowed to enter and exit a cell, with the ultimate goal being to assist is the cell’s ability to maintain homeostasis.

Golgi Apparatus

You might say that this is a busy place. Proteins are arriving here, then they are modified, processed, and packaged up. At the end, these proteins will be ready to perform their various functions for the cell.

Cytoskeleton

Three words: support, support, support. But also this organelle helps with movement and even some biochemical activities, which is a fancy way of saying reactions.

Nucleus

Many people argue that this is the most important organelle because it has the vital instructions that basically control all of the cell’s activities.