Cell Functions

Golgi Apparatus

A delivery system of folded membranes that sort and transport enzymes and hormones made in one part of the cell and needed in another location in the cell.

Lysosome

Contains enzymes needed for digesting food, viruses, bacteria, and old cells.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Forms a link between the nuclear membrane and the cell. Ribosomes are attached to the surface. Proteins are synthesized in the ribosomes and enclosed in vessicles and sent to the Golgi.

Centriole

Found in animal cells; plays a role in cell division.

Chromatin

Hereditary material in the cell.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

It forms a link between the nuclear membrane and the cell. Site of carbohydrate and lipid syntheses.

Cytoplasm

Jelly-like material surrounding the nucleus of a cell; chemical reactions take place here

Micromembrane

Membrane- bound cytoplasmic particles that are specialized as containers for metabolic activity (ex Lysosome)

Cytoskeleton

Network of microtubules and microfilaments used for support and movement of the cell

Centriole

Not normally found in plant cells. They are found in animal cells in pairs and are necessary for cell division.

Plasma Membrane

Phospholipid bilayer that regulates cell transport; involved in cell to cell recognition.

Cell Wall

Plant, fungal, and bacteria have a cell wall that is used for support and protection. It is composed of cellulose in plants.

Chromoplast

Plastids that produce and store pigments for color.

Nuclear Membrane

Porous; surrounds the nucleus

Plastid

Responsible for photosynthesis, storage of products like starch, and for synthesis of many classes of molecules such as fatty acids

Microtubule

Serve as structural components within cells and are involved in many cellular processes including mitosis and cytokinesis.

Chloroplast

Site of photosynthesis in the plant and algal cell

Ribosome

Site of protein synthesis, made up of RNA

Nucleolus

Site of ribosome synthesis

Vacuole

Site of storage of glucose, water, salts, and toxic substances. Larger in plant cells than in animal cells

Plasmodesma

Small pores in the cell wall which appear to allow a bridge of cytoplasm from one cell to the next.

Nucleus

The control center of the cell; directs the making of proteins and cell division

Mitochondria

The site of cellular respiration or energy production. Membrane bound

Microfilament

These form the cytoskeleton, a three dimensional network inside an eukaryotic cell