Organelle Functions of the Celll

Cell membrane

"Barrier of the cell" provides structure and support for the cell, regulates what enters and leaves the cell through the semipermeable membrane.

Cell Wall

Found in plant cells but not animal cells. Provides structure and support for the cell.

Nucleus

Contains almost all of the cell's DNA. Acts as the "control center" for the cell, telling other organelles what to do.

Lysosomes

Small organelles filled with enzymes found in animal cells. Responsible for the digestion of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins into smaller particles used by the cell. "Waste disposal" of the cell. They digest old organelles that are no longer working and also get rid of other wastes.

Vacuoles

"Storage facility" of the cell. Store materials such as water, salts, proteins and carbohydrates. Plant cells have bigger vacuoles than animal cells.

Nuclear membrane

Surrounds the material of the nucleus. Many small pores that allow certain materials to move in and out of the cell.

Nucleolus

Small dense region within most nuclei in which the assembly of proteins begins.

Cytoplasm

Material inside the cell membrane. A "fluid" that holds all organelles. Also, where the cytoskeleton is located and is the path for materials in the cell.

Mitochondria

'Power plant" of the cell. Converts chemical energy (foods) into compounds that can be used in the cell.

Centrioles

One of two tiny structures located in the cytoplasm of animal cells. Used in cell division and are structures to which the spindle fibers attached.

Cytoskeleton

Network of protein filaments within some cells that help the cell maintain its shape. It's involved in many forms of movement of materials in the cell.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Internal membrane system in cells where the lipid parts of the cell membrane are assembled and some proteins are modified.

Golgi Apparatus

Stack of internal membranes that modify, sort and package proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant cells that captures energy from sunlight can coverts it into chemical energy.