Cell Structure and Function

Cell Theory
All organisms are
composed of one or
more cells.

Cells are the smallest

living units of all living
organisms.
Cells come from preexisting cells.

What are cell

organelles?

Cell Organelles
Amazing nanomachines that all work together to make the
cell work. Think of a cell as a factory whose main
product is proteins.

The Cell Membrane

(or cell envelope)

Made of a semipermeable phospholipid

bilayer containing embedded proteins
having various functions.

Plant Cell Wall

Cell wall a strong wall outside the

cell membrane that provides support
for plant cells since they do not have a
skeleton

Nucleus

Nucleus: the BOSS

Contains genetic material (DNA) the
blueprint or instruction manual for
construction and maintenance of the cell. It
also directs cell activities

Chromosomes:

DNA of eukaryotes is densely packed into chromosomes.

There are 46 chromosomes in EVERY cell of your body, 2 of
each type.

Cytoplasm

Cytoplasm is a thick solution that fills each cell

and is enclosed by the cell membrane. It is
mainly composed of water, salts, and proteins. In
eukaryotic cells, the cytoplasm includes all of
the material inside the cell and outside of the
nucleus.

Cytoskeleton: A network of protein fibers

that support cell shape, anchor organelles,
and provide transport paths between the
organelles.

Ribosomes

Ribosomes
machine for
protein synthesis

Golgi Apparatus

Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Golgi apparatus: the packaging plant

and post office
Proteins

Transport
vesicle

Protein

The golgi apparatus

chemically modifies
proteins and other
molecules and
repackages them into
vesicles that then travel
to the cell membrane
where they expel their
contents

Golgi Apparatus

Lysosomes

Lysosomes: waste and recycling plant of

the cell and also help kill invading
disease-causing organisms
- membrane-bound vesicles containing digestive enzymes
made in the Golgi apparatus
- The enzymes break down food particles and destroy old,
worn-out cell parts, and in white blood cells, bacteria and
viruses.

Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Cytoplasm

Endoplasmic
reticulum

Phagocytosis
Food
vesicle

Golgi
apparatus

Lysosomes

Plasma
membrane

Extracellular
fluid

Digestion of
phagocytized
food particles
or cells

Transport
vesicle
Old or damaged
organelle
Breakdown
of old
organelle

Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts
Transforms the suns energy by
photosynthesis
Found only in plant cells
They have
special pigment
molecules called
CHLOROPHYLL
that absorb
sunlight and
make GLUCOSE

Centrioles

Centrioles: crucial for cell division: only

in animal cells

The centriole is cylindrical

and attaches spindle fibres
to help pull chromosomes
apart during cell division

Electron micrograph of
2 centrioles inside a
cell

Endoplasmic
Reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum: highway

transport system in the cell
a system of channels from the nucleus throughout the
cell

 Rough ER is rough because of ribosomes

attached (sites of protein synthesis)
Smooth ER lack ribosomes

Rough endoplasmic reticulum with

ribosomes

Vacuoles

Vacuoles: warehouses of the cell

Receive, store and release
necessary materials

Central Vacuole
(in plant cells only)

Central Vacuole: stores water in

plants and keeps them upright by
maintaining cell turgor pressure

Mitochondria

Mitochondria: powerhouse of the cell

Mitochondria convert glucose to usable energy
for the cell (ATP)

Mitochondria: found in every cell and

found in large numbers in cells that need a
huge amount of energy: i.e muscle cells,
sperm cells

Mitochondria line the flagellum of this sperm cell