Cell Organelles The different structures of the cell

Cell Wall: a rigid covering  Rigid outer layer found in plant and bacteria cells.  Provides protection from physical injury  Provides skeletal support.  Contains openings that make it totally permeable.

Plasma Membrane: the fluid gate  Composed of protein of lipid (fat) molecules.  Acts as a boundary to contain cytoplasm  Selectively permeable membrane to select chemicals that can pass in and out of cells.  Composed of protein of lipid (fat) molecules.  Acts as a boundary to contain cytoplasm  Selectively permeable membrane to select chemicals that can pass in and out of cells.

Cytoplasm: the medium for movement  Jelly-like material that fills cells.  Made mostly of water.  Serves as a “molecular soup” in which organelles are suspended in.  The medium for transport.  Jelly-like material that fills cells.  Made mostly of water.  Serves as a “molecular soup” in which organelles are suspended in.  The medium for transport.

Cytoskeleton: the scaffolding  Microtubules and microfilaments provide structure and support for the cell.

Nucleus: the command center  Consists of nuclear envelope, nucleolus, chromatin, and nucleoplasm  Long thin strands of chromatin (DNA) contains instructions for cell metabolism and heredity.  Nuclear membrane has pores for movement of materials in and out of nucleus.  Consists of nuclear envelope, nucleolus, chromatin, and nucleoplasm  Long thin strands of chromatin (DNA) contains instructions for cell metabolism and heredity.  Nuclear membrane has pores for movement of materials in and out of nucleus.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Smooth & Rough  Large workspace for the cell.  “Rough” appearance due to the presence of ribosomes  “Smooth” ER connected to Rough ER.  Smooth ER has different functions for different cells. Storage of enzymes, and the production and storage of lipids.  Large workspace for the cell.  “Rough” appearance due to the presence of ribosomes  “Smooth” ER connected to Rough ER.  Smooth ER has different functions for different cells. Storage of enzymes, and the production and storage of lipids.

Mitochondria: Power packs  Create ATP - the cell’s chemical energy.  Can number from 1 to 1000’s inside eukaryotic cells.  Folds in the Cristae increase the surface area for addition production of ATP’s  Matrix inside contains hundreds of enzymes.  Create ATP - the cell’s chemical energy.  Can number from 1 to 1000’s inside eukaryotic cells.  Folds in the Cristae increase the surface area for addition production of ATP’s  Matrix inside contains hundreds of enzymes.

Golgi Apparatus  Mainly devoted to processing the proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)  Modifies the proteins for distribution.  Mainly devoted to processing the proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)  Modifies the proteins for distribution.

Lysosomes: Cleaning up  Contain powerful enzymes which can be used to break down large food particles into smaller molecules or destroy damaged organelles.  Might digest healthy organelles to provide the cell with extra energy.

Vacuoles: Storage and packaging  Membrane-bound sacs found in cytoplasm. Same type of material as the plasma membrane.  Help in waste disposal, transport, storage, and growth.  Much larger in plant cells. They aid in giving the plant cell support when filled with water.  Also store important substances like salts, minerals, and nutrients.  Contractile vacuoles are specialized to pump water out of the cell.  Membrane-bound sacs found in cytoplasm. Same type of material as the plasma membrane.  Help in waste disposal, transport, storage, and growth.  Much larger in plant cells. They aid in giving the plant cell support when filled with water.  Also store important substances like salts, minerals, and nutrients.  Contractile vacuoles are specialized to pump water out of the cell.

Vesicles: transport carries  Small vacuoles  Usually formed at Golgi apparatus.  Carry protein molecules to other organelles or the plasma membrane.  Small vacuoles  Usually formed at Golgi apparatus.  Carry protein molecules to other organelles or the plasma membrane.

Ribosome: the protein workbench  Site of protein synthesis  Found on the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum  Site of protein synthesis  Found on the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum Inside the cell animation. Click here.here