Cell Organelles Journey Inside the Cell Cell Nucleus The cell nucleus is the direction center for the cell. It provides all the instructions for the things the cell needs to do. It is protected by a shell called the nuclear envelope

Cytoplasm This is the gel-like liquid inside a cell that contains all the organelles. The organelles float around in this substance. The cytoskeleton is found in the cytoplasm.

Cytoskeleton This is very thin structure system inside a cell that helps a cell hold the shape it is supposed to, like the shape of a blood cell or a skin cell.

Golgi Body or Golgi Apparatus This organelle packages proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum, particularly ones that will be sent outside the cell (called secretion).

Mitochondria Mitochondria use food (once it has been broken down into sugars) to produce the energy living things use to move, grow and survive.

Ribosomes Ribosomes build proteins. Sometimes they are attached to the Endoplasmic Reticulum and sometimes they just float in the cytoplasm

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) This organelle is responsible for folding and sorting proteins. Proteins must be properly folded to work correctly. Many diseases can be traced to improperly folded proteins. Diseases like mad cow disease or familial fatal insomnia.

Lysosomes Lysosomes break down old cell materials (including old food) and release it to be reused, like a recycling factory.

Chloroplasts Chloroplasts are found mostly in plants and are responsible for capturing energy from sunlight and turning it into food (in the form of sugars).

Vacuole Animals cells may have many vacuoles or they could have none at all. Plant cells usually have one large vacuole. The vacuole is a storage unit inside the cell. It can store food, water or waste products.

Cell Membrane (also called Plasma Membrane) In animal cells the cell membrane provides the only barrier between the inside and the outside of the cell. In plants the cell membrane is inside the cell wall and filters what is allowed to come in and out of the cell just like it does in animal cells.

Cell Wall The cell wall is found in plant cells. It provides the structure required to grow without bones. It is OUTSIDE the cell membrane.