Cell Structure

& Function

http://koning.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/cell/cell.html
 Cell Theory
• All living things are made up of cells.
• Cells are the smallest working units of all
living things.
• All cells come from preexisting cells
through cell division.
 Definition of Cell

A cell is the smallest unit that is

capable of performing life
functions.
 Examples of Cells
Amoeba Proteus

Plant Stem

Bacteria

Red Blood Cell

Nerve Cell
 Two Types of Cells

•Prokaryotic
•Eukaryotic
 Prokaryotic
• Do not have
structures
surrounded by
membranes
• Few internal
structures
• One-celled
organisms,
Bacteria

http://library.thinkquest.org/C004535/prokaryotic_cells.html
 Eukaryotic
• Contain organelles surrounded by membranes
• Most living organisms
Plant Animal

http://library.thinkquest.org/C004535/eukaryotic_cells.html
 Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
• No clear • Nuclear membrane
membrane or and mitotic apparatus
mitotic apparatus typically present
• Cells are minute, • Cells usually larger
size in diameter is than 10 microns in
1-10 microns diameter
• Flagellum, if • Flagella or cilia, if
present is simple present of 2 axial and
or single stranded 9 peripheral strands
 Prokaryotic Eukaryotic
• No true plastids in
• True plastids present in
photosynthetic form
photosynthetic forms.
• No mitochondria,
endoplasmic • Mitochondria, E.R. and
reticulum or golgi other organelles
apparatus present.
• Single-celled or • Single-celled, colonial
colonial or multicellular
• Bacteria and blue-
green algae
• Other unicellular and
multicellular organisms
 Cells share basic structural
features
1. All cells are surrounded by a plasma
membranes which act as a barrier between
the internal and external part of the cell and
help to regulate its internal composition.
2. All cells contain cytoplasm which is the fluid or
jellylike medium where chemical reaction of
metabolism take place and where enzymes,
proteins and other substances needed by the
cell can be manufactured
 “Typical” Animal Cell

http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/images/cell.gif
 “Typical” Plant Cell

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/images/plant3.gif
Cell Parts
Organelles
Surrounding the Cell
 Cell Membrane
• Outer membrane of cell
that controls movement
in and out of the cell
• Double layer (made up
of lipids with proteins
embedded like mosaics
tiles.)

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Cell membrane
• Or plasma membrane
• Or plasmalemma
• Separates the cell from the surrounding
environment
• Regulates the entry and exit of substances
into and out of the cell
• Keeps and maintains the internal condition
of the cell.
• It maintains homeostasis
 Permeability of the Membrane
• The plasma membrane is
differentially permeable or
selectively permeable.
– Allows a certain substance to pass
through freely
– Other substances can pass through
only to some slight extent or only at
certain times
 Cell Wall
• Most commonly found
in plant cells &
bacteria
• Supports & protects
cells
• Bacteria, plant cell
and other
microorganisms are
enclosed with rigid
cell wall.
http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
• Made up cellulose
 Cell Wall
• Has many small openings that allow
materials to pass to and from the cell
membrane
• Animal cells do not have a cell wall.
Inside the Cell
 Nucleus

• Largest of all the organelles

• Directs cell activities
• Separated from cytoplasm by nuclear
membrane
• Contains genetic material – DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic acid)
 Nuclear Membrane
• Surrounds nucleus
• Made of two layers
• Openings allow
material to enter and
leave nucleus

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Chromosomes
• In nucleus
• Made of DNA
• Contain
instructions for
traits &
characteristics
– 23 pairs
• Autosomes
• Sex chromosomes
http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Nucleolus
• Inside nucleus
• Contains RNA
(Ribonucleic acid) to
build proteins

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Cytoplasm
• Gel-like mixture/ water material
• Surrounded by cell membrane
• Contains hereditary material
 Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Moves materials around
in cell
• Serves as a path for the
transport of materials
through the cell
• Smooth type: lacks
ribosomes
• Rough type (pictured):
ribosomes embedded in
surface
http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Ribosomes
• Each cell contains
thousands
• Make proteins
• Found on the
cytoplasm & floating
throughout the cell

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Mitochondria
• “powerhouse of the cell”
• Produces energy (form of
Adenosine triphosphate)
through chemical
reactions – breaking
down fats &
carbohydrates
• Controls level of water
and other materials in cell
http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Mitochondria
• Recycles and decomposes proteins,
fats, and carbohydrates
• some cells, such as those that form
the heart or growing buds of the
plants, contain numerous
mitochondria because they require
the much needed energy

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Golgi Bodies/
Complex/Apparatus
• Protein 'packaging
plant'
• Move materials within
the cell
• Move materials out of
the cell

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Lysosome
• Digestive 'plant' for
proteins, fats, and
carbohydrates
• Transports undigested
material to cell
membrane for removal
• Cell breaks down if
lysosome explodes

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Lysosome
• Membrane bound organelles that contain
enzymes that are capable of digesting the
cell’s protein and other worn out parts
• proteins (from the ribosome) stay in the cell
for only a short while
– May enter the lysosomes where enzymes
break them down and recycle to become
amino acids
• The recycled amino acids are used to make other
proteins

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Vacuoles
• Membrane-bound sacs
for storage, digestion,
and waste removal
• fluid-filled spaces that
contains water solution
• Help plants maintain
shape
• May also contain food
molecules, salt or
pigments

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Plastids
• Only found in plant cells of
photosynthetic, eukaryotic
organisms
• Actually vessels or containers
carrying pigments
• Not found in animal and fungi cells
 Two Types of Plastids
• Leucoplasts • Chromoplast
– Contain starch or – Contain the
other plant pigment that give
nutrients certain color to
fruits, flowers,
leaves
• Chloroplast
• Chlorophyll
 Chloroplast
• Usually found in plant
cells
• Contains green
chlorophyll
• Where
photosynthesis takes
place

http://library.thinkquest.org/12413/structures.html
 Centrioles
• Are two cylindrical organelles containing
bundles of microtubules
• Located near the nucleus
• Important role in cell division
• Found most in animal cells and some
simple plants
 Microtubules
• Long, hollow cylindrical structures
found in the cytoplasm
• Serve as a skeleton of the cell, giving
its shape
 Microfilaments
• Appear as long, solid, threadlike strands
found in the cells
• Composed of proteins, actin and is
associated with the movement of the cell
 Cilia and Flagella
• The structures of • There are usually
these two organs few flagella in a
for movement are cell, but cilia may
identical, except cover almost the
that flagella are entire cell surface
longer than cilia,
that they appear
like whip
 Cilia and Flagella
• For single cell • For larger or
organism, cilia and multicellular
flagella are organisms, cilia
involved in cell serve to move
movement substances over
the surface of the
cilia