Structures and Functions of typical animal and plant cells as

seen under the light microscope

Functions of cells:
➔​ Obtain energy and convert it into a usable form
➔​ Gain raw materials from their surroundings
➔​ Produce biological molecules - carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
➔​ Package materials so they can be exposed from the cell
➔​ Excrete waste materials
➔​ Store and retrieve genetic information

Organelle Structure Function

Cytoplasm “Living material” in which various →Provides support for organelles

activities take place and in which many →Facilitates cell movement by forming
discrete structures with particular pseudopodia (animal cells)
functions are found →Facilitates the transport of substances in
and out of cells
→Gives the cell its shape

Plasma membrane/Cell ‘Trilaminar’ appearance - pale layer Cell boundary:

surface membrane sandwiched between two dark layers →retains cell contents
Bilayer of phospholipid with proteins →controls gaseous exchange of substances
Surrounds the cytoplasm with the surroundings.

Rough endoplasmic Flat sacs of membrane enclosing a Site of protein synthesis; Protein molecules
reticulum (RER) fluid-filled space (cisternae); Continuous collect inside the cisternae and RER
with the outer layer of the nuclear transports proteins to the Golgi body
envelope

The outer surface is covered in ribosomes

Smooth endoplasmic Like RER but with no ribosomes on the Synthesis of lipids:
reticulum (SER) outer surface makes triglycerides (fats), phospholipids and
cholesterol

Different roles in different cells:

Liver - break down of toxins
Ovary &testis - production of oestrogen &
progesterone

Ribosomes Very small; consists of a large and small Assemble amino acids to make proteins;
subunit; made of roughly equal parts of protein synthesis
protein and RNA (30 nm in diameter;
80S) May for polysomes-collection of ribosomes
Attached to RER or free in cytoplasm. strung along mRNA
Golgi body/ Golgi A stack of flattened, curved →Modifies and packages proteins to
apparatus) membrane-bound sacs, called cisternae transport them in the vesicles that ‘bud off’
to the cell surface membrane to be deposited
Not stable-constantly changing: (exocytosis)
→Tiny membrane-bound vesicles move
toward the Golgi body (from ER) and →Makes secretory vesicles - useful
fuse, forming a new layer to the stack. substances that are released
→At the other side, the sacs break down,
forming vesicles that move away from →Makes lysosomes
the Golgi body

Mitochondria (singular: Formed by two membranes surrounding a Site of aerobic respiration (Matrix)
mitochondrion) fluid-filled matrix

Inner membrane is highly folded to form

cristae, which give a large surface area
for enzymes for respiration

Nuclear envelope Structure like that of ER with ribosomes Separates nucleus from cytoplasm; allows
on the outer surface; pores to allow movement between the two
substances to pass between the cytoplasm
and the nucleus

Nucleus Clearly visible in LM and EM when Contains and stores genetic information as
stained - Largest cell organelle DNA in chromosomes; DNA is organised
into genes, which control all the activities of
Enclosed by two membranes (nuclear the cell
envelope) that is perforated by pores
(nuclear pores) Nuclear pores prevent material from moving
freely between the cytoplasm and the
Contain chromosomes which form a nucleus; Allow movement of some
tangle called chromatin - substances (ATP, RNA and nucleotides)
→Heterochromatin is usually very darkly
stained whereas euchromatin is less
darkly stained

(Absent in RBCs in mammals and

phloem sieve tubes in plants)

Nucleolus Darkly staining area in the nucleus Contains rRNA which helps with protein
synthesis

Produces ribosomes

Centrioles Made of protein fibres, structure is Make and organise microtubules (made of
(animal cells only) similar to the base of a cilium/agellum the protein tubulin), which form the spindle
to move chromosomes when nuclei divide
Microvilli Tiny finger-like projections found on the Increases the surface area of the cell for the
→(animal cells only) surface of the cell absorption or secretion of substances

Lysosomes A single membrane surrounds a fluid Contain enzymes for destroying

(mainly found in filled with digestive enzymes worn-out/unwanted parts of cells and for
animal cells) digesting food particles and bacteria

Chloroplasts Large plasmid surrounded by a double Site of all the reactions of

(plant cells only) membrane (envelope) photosynthesis

Many internal membranes (thylakoids) The envelope isolates the reactions in the
which stack to form grana organelle.

Stroma (background material) run Thylakoids contain chlorophyll necessary

through grana for the light-independent reactions.
Give a large surface area for chlorophyll,
other pigments and enzymes

Stroma - site of light independent reactions.

Contain starch grains as well as ribosomes, a
circular DNA molecule and lipid droplets

Cell wall (Plant cells) Surrounds the plasma membrane and →Provides mechanical support and
contains a fluid-filled vacuole surrounded protection; allows a pressure potential to be
by a membrane developed, which aids in support

Rigid; consists of long strands of →Prevents osmotic bursting

cellulose microfibrils running through a
matrix of complex polysaccharides →Pathway for the movement of water and
mineral salts between cells (through
Contain plasmodesmata- passageways plasmodesmata)
that cross the cell wall of each cell

Vacuole Membrane-bound organelle that contains →Storage of various substances, including

liquid. waste products.
Plant cells- Large, →Important for the osmotic properties of the
permanent and central Membrane - tonoplast cell

Animal cells - small →In plant cells- contain cell sap which has a
and temporary variety of substances in sol’n (sugars,
pigments, enzymes)