CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

All living things are made up of cell.

In 1665, Robert Hooke designed one of the world’s first microscope and used it to
examine thinly sliced pieces of cork and then discovered cells
1n 1838, German scientist named Matthias Schleiden stated that all plants were made
of cells
In 1839, Theodor Schwann stated that all animals were made of cells
In 1855, Rudolph Virchow discovered that new living cells arise from pre-existing
cells.
Some cells have one cell. They are called unicellular. Amoeba, yeast, paramecium
Some cells have more than one cell. They are called multicellular. Plants, animals
The structure and shape of the cell is suited to the specific function it carries out
within the organism.
There are more than 200 shapes and sizes of cells in a human body.
An average person has about 25 trillion RBCs.
Bacterial cell – Mycoplasma is the smallest cell while the ostrich egg is the largest
cell
Microscope is an instrument that produces enlarged images of small objects for
detailed examination and analysis.
Inside a cell, many small structures called organelles are present.
CELL MEMBRANE
1. A cell membrane, also called plasma membrane, is a thin porous layer of
that encloses all the organelles of cell
2. It provides protection
3. It gives shape
4. It is semi permeable
5. Cell wall provides rigidity to the stem
6. It is made of glucose
7. It helps to stand erect

CYTOPLASM
 1. It is a jelly like material consisting of several chemicals involved in various
reactions.
2. It contains many organelles -

NUCLEUS

1. Nucleus is the largest cell organelle in spherical or oval shape.

2. It is surrounded by a double membrane called nuclear membrane.
3. Liquid in it is called nucleoplasm.
4. Nucleoplasm contains a smaller body call nucleolus
5. Nucleus also contains thread like structures called chromosomes.
6. Chromosomes have DNA – Genes.
7. Nucleus is the control centre of the cell.
8. Nucleus + cytoplasm = protoplasm = living matter of cell.

MITOCHONDRIA

1. Mitochondria are small rod shaped organelles.

2. It is powerhouse of the cells
3. They are the sites of respiration.
4. Muscles cells have more mitochondria than other cells.

PLASTIDS

1. It is only present in the plant cells.

2. They are of 3 types
a. Chloroplast – contains green pigment; called kitchen of the cell.
b. Chromoplast – it is non green; provides color to fruits and flowers.
c. Leucoplast – it is colorless; stores food; present in roots

LYSOSOMES

1. Storehouse of digestive enzymes.

2. Digest worn out organelles etc.
3. They are capable of destroying the cell, hence called suicidal bags.

ENDOLPLASMIC RETICULUM

1. Network of membranes found through the cytoplasm.

 2. Transports material within as well as outside the cell.
3. Connected to nuclear membranes and other end of cell membrane.

RIBOSOMES

1. Small round structures present in Free State or attached to the ER.

2. Their main function id protein synthesis.

GOLGI BODIES

1. Stacks of flattened sacs and tubes.

2. Main function is to receive, pack, and distribute chemical products.
3. It is hence called cell’s mail room

CENTROSOME

1. Smallest organelle containing 2 centrioles.

2. Found only in animal cells.
3. Present very close to nucleus.
4. Helps in cell division.

VACUOLE

1. Storage sacs found in cytoplasm

2. Larger in plant cells.
3. Store food and variety of nutrients.
4. Most of the water is stored in vacuole in plant cells.
5. They store waste products to keep it away from infecting the organelles.
6. Fluid present in vacuole is called cell sap
7. It helps in maintaining shape and structure of cell.

Plant cell Animal cell

Cell wall Cell wall is present Cell wall is absent
Cytoplasm It is not as dense as animal Cytoplasm is dense
cell
Vacuole A large vacuole is present Vacuoles are absent. If
present, they are very small
in size
Plastids Usually plastids are present Plastids are absent
Centrosome Centrosome is absent Centrosome is present