Organelles & Functions

Cell Membrane

Semipermeable membrane made of two layers of phospholipids

Cell Wall

Provides structure for a plant cell

Centrioles

Only in animal cells; forms spindle fibers during cell division

Chloroplasts

Site of photosynthesis; found only in plant cells; contain chlorophyll

Chromatin

Uncoiled DNA; coils into chromosomes during cell division

Cilia & Flagella

Locomotive structures made up of microtubules; cilia is short hair-like projections; flagella is a long whip-like tail

Cytoplasm

Jelly like substance that fills the interior of cells and suspends organelles

Golgi Body

Processes, packages, and stores the fats and proteins produced by the endoplasmic reticulums

Lysosomes

Bag of enzymes used to digest particles and bacteria; garbage men of the cell

Microfilament

Involved in muscle contraction in large organisms

Microtubules

Aid in cell structure; hold organelles in place

Mitochondria

Powerhouse of the cell; site of ATP production

Nucleolus

Location where ribosomes are formed

Nucleus

Control center of the cell; contains nucleolus and DNA

Plastids

Found only in plant cells; contain their own DNA; chloroplasts and leucoplasts are both types

Ribosomes

Site of protein synthesis; found in cytoplasm and on the rough endoplasmic reticulum

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Acts as transport system for newly formed proteins; synthesizes proteins

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Synthesizes fats (lipids)

Vacuoles

Storage sacs; plants have a single large one that aids in turgor pressure and animal cells have many smaller ones