Cell Organelles

Organelle or Structure Description Function How does their Structure relate to its function Type of microscope the organelle can be seen with Microscopic Image of the Organelle

A large, spherical, oval and Nucleus sometimes elongate structure in the cytoplasm. It is colourless, transparent and jelly-like.

Stores the information needed to control the cell activity.

The structure of the nucleus holds the DNA which is required to control the activity of cells.

It can be seen on an electron microscope, and on a light microscope as well but less clearly.

The semipermeable sheetCell Membrane like structure that acts as a lining or boundary for the cytoplasm of a cell.

Protects the interior of the cell by only allowing select substances into the cells.

The semi-permeable structure of the cell membrane allows for the transfer of substances in and out of the cell.

Light or electron microscope.

Enclosed compartment filled Vacuole with water. Looks like a storage bubble. Found in animals and plants. Large permanent, fluid filled sacs in the cytoplasm of mature cells. Each vacuole consist of watery solutions called cell sap, contains substances such as mineral salts, sugars and amino acids. Contains pigments that give it colour.

Store food and nutrients a cell needs to survive.Store waste so that the rest of the cell is not contaminated. To isolate substances that may be harmful to the cell and exports unwanted substances.

Membrane surrounds a mass of fluid. Within the fluid is nutrients or waste products. Plants also use the vacuole to store water.

Light Microscope

Organelles that are green in colour, Chloroplast due to the presence of a pigment called chlorophyll. (the green pigment that make plants green)

Responsible for photosynthesismanufacturing of sugar in plants, using the energy of sunlight.

The layering of the membranes increases the surface area, allowing a large amount of sunlight to be absorbed for photosynthesis. The enzymes needed for photosynthesis are present in the stroma and food made during photosynthesis is stored in the stromas

Light MicroscopeGreen shaped shaped structures, smaller than the nucleus Electron Microscopeused to see the detailed interior of the cell

as starch grains. An important structure in the chloroplasts is the thylakoids (thin layer of membrane containing chlorophyll). These structures are the site of the photosynthetic light reactions and it involves the transfer of electrons from a photo-excited state via the chlorophyll inside the thylakoids membrane to the stroma, which then produces ATP.

The cell wall is a tough, flexible but Cell Wall sometimes fairly rigid layer that surrounds some types of cells. It is located outside the cell membrane.

The cell wall provides cells with structural support and protection, in addition to acting as a filtering mechanism. Another major function of the cell wall is to act as a pressure vessel, preventing over expansion when water enters the cell.

The cellulose cell wall is a tough, flexible, fairly rigid structure that provides support and protection. Its structure allows it to provide support and strength. It is built up of strands of cellulose fibres which have little elasticity and are somewhat flexible, giving cell walls their characteristic feature of being able to resist the outward pressure of the vacuole and cell contents in a well-watered plant cell, conferring turgity to the cell.

Cell Wall can be viewed through an Electron Microscope or a light microscope..

Nucleolus

A nucleolus is a specialised structure in the nucleolus, that is formed from various chromosomes and is active in the synthesis of the ribosomes.

Every cell contains at least one nucleolus. It is essential for the survival of the cells and controls the functioning of the cells. The nucleolus has the ribosome production which makes protein. Primary function is to assembles ribosomes.

The function of the nucleolus is the production of two subunits, which together form the ribosomes. Its various chromosomes allow the nucleolus to produce ribosomes.

The Nucleolus can be viewed through through transmission electron microscope.

Ribosomes

Ribosomes are small particles consisting of RNA and associated proteins found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells.

The ribosome plays a very important role in protein synthesis, which is the process by which proteins are made from individual amino acids.

Ribosomes are made of protein and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Their main function is to translate messenger RNA, or mRNA, into strings of amino acids called proteins. Ribosomes are composed of 2 main parts: the large subunit and the small subunit. The small subunit has a special groove that allows for mRNA to bind to it. Once the mRNA is bound, the large subunit attaches on top, and a complete ribosome is formed. This ribosome then bined to transfer RNA, and ultimately creates an amino acid.

An electron microscope would be needed to view ribosomes as without one, the resolution power of the light microscope is too low.

Golgi Bodies

A bunch of vesicles and membranes (organelle) which can found in most eukaryotic cells. It is made up of many layers of fluid membrane sacs in shapes of pancakes. Golgie bodies are designed to sort and transport proteins in a cell.

The function of the golgi is to process and package macromolecules (proteins and lipids). The golgi forms a part of the cellular endomembrane system. It is part of the complex internal sorting and distributing system in the cell. One of the most important functions of the golgli apparatus is the formation of the lysosome.

Golgi bodies are made up of tubes of joined vesicles. Its distinctive shape of plate like structures enable golgi apparatus to perform its function. Its specific structure is also used as a bridge between the stacks and to lock the proteins together.

Golgi bodies can be seen under the optical microscope. The golgi bodies can be seen to be composed of stacks of flattened structures which contains numerous vesicles that contain secretory granules.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

A vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted tubes that are located in the cell's cytoplasm.

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum packages proteins for transport, synthesizes carbohydrates and lipids, and releases calcium. Other functions of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum include

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum packages proteins for transport since it has the tubes, that is how it transports chemicals between and within cells. The network of the smooth ER allows there to be enough surface area for the action or storage of key enzymes.

Electron microscope to view minor detail of the vast interconnected system as the resolution power of the light microscope is too low.

transformation of bile pigments, glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen), and detoxification of many drugs and chemical agents.

Lysosome

Lysosomes are single-membrane organelles

the lysosomes digest that work when food is eaten or absorbed. Once the food is inside the cell the lysosomes attach and release their enzymes. they then cause the breakdown of complex molecules such as sugars and proteins. The lysosomes work even when there is no food, they still digest the cell organelles to create nutrients

A specialized vesicle that holds a variety of enzyme. the enzyme proteins are first made in the endoplasmic reticulum. they are then stored in a vesicle and sent to the golgi apparatus. The golgi then finishes the process to create the digestive enzymes and then releases the lysosome vesicles. after this occurs the lysosome float in the cytoplasm until they are needed.

Electon microscope: for high magnification.

Mitochondria

One of the important cell organelles inside a cell

Takes in nutrients and breaks them down

Two membranes in a mitochondrial, outer membrane covers organelle, inner membrane folds over many times

The mitochondria can only be seen with a transmission electron microscope.

Creates and provides energy for the cells, this process is known as cellular respiration.

Most of the chemical reactions that take place in cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria. The fluid inside mitochondria is called the matrix The cristae (folds), the inner membrane allows for more surface area which increases the amount of energy that can be produced by the mitochondria.

Cells of those organs with high physiologic al activity possess more number of mitochondr ia

Presence of mitochondr ia is generally more concentrat ed in the regions of the cell with high physiologic al activity

Centrioles