CELL STRUCTURE AND

FUNCTION
 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this session, you should be
able to :

❖ describe the differences between

plant and animal cells
❖ describe the functions of organelles
in plant and animal cells
 Eukaryotic cells
• Eukaryotic cells
– Domain Eukarya
– Divided into protists, plants, fungi, and
animals
• Compartmentalized into organelles
– Organelles perform specific functions
• Cytoplasm bound by plasma membrane
• Eukaryotic cells are rich in membrane
– Most organelles are membranous
• Animal vs. plant cells
 Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Animal cell
Plasma membrane :

protein
phospholipid NUCLEUS:
Nuclear envelope

Chromatin
Cytoskeleton
Nucleolus

*centrioles ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM (ER):

Rough ER
Smooth ER
Centrosome

Ribosomes
Cytoplasm
Peroxisome

Mitochondrion
Vesicle

*Lysosome Polyribosome

Golgi apparatus

* Not found in plant cells

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

* Central vacuole
NUCLEUS

Nucleolus Cell wall of adjacent cell

Chromatin

Ribosomes
* Chloroplast
Centrosomes

ENDOPLASMIC Mitochondrion
RETICULUM :
Rough ER
Smooth ER CYTOSKELETON

Golgi apparatus

Plasma membrane

Cytoplasm

* Cell wall

* Not found in animal cells

 Animal & Plant Cell Differences

Structure Animal Cell Plant Cell

Cell wall × √
Chloroplast × √
Lysosome √ ×
Centrioles √ ×
Large Central Vacuole × √
Shape Round Rectangular
 Plasma membrane

Surrounds cytoplasm,
and regulates
entrance and exit
of molecules
 Nucleus
command center of cell

Nuclear envelope
double membrane that encloses
nucleus
Chromatin
diffuse threads containing
DNA
Nucleolus
produces ribosomal
subunits
Adapted from:https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/nucleus/chromatin.html
Endoplasmic reticulum

Rough ER :
studded with
ribosomes

Smooth ER :
lacks
ribosomes, synthesizes
lipid molecules
Ribosome Ribosome:
Particles that carry out protein
synthesis

Polyribosome:
string of
ribosomes
Ribosomes : particles that carry out protein synthesis

• Non-membrane-bound
particles where protein
synthesis occurs

• Made of 2 subunits

• Some float free in

cytoplasm, others
attached to
Endoplasmic
reticulum (ER)
Peroxisome

Peroxisome :
vesicle that
breaks down fatty
acids
Golgi apparatus

Golgi apparatus :
processes, packages,
and secretes modified
cell products
Golgi
apparatus
• One side is directed
toward the ER and the
other toward the
plasma membrane

• Golgi receives,
processes, and
packages proteins
and lipids, so that
they may be sent to
their final destination
in the cell

• Forms transport
vesicles
✓ May become
lysosomes
✓ May be released
during secretion
or exocytosis
Vesicle

Vesicle:
memebrane-bounded
Sac that stores and transports
substances
Cytoplasm

Cytoplasm:
Semifluid matrix ou side
nucleus that contains organelles
 Centrosome

Centrosomes :
Microtubules organizing
center (lacks centrioles)

Centrosomes :
Microtubules organizing
center (contain centrioles)
Cytoskeleton

Cytoskeleton :
protein fibers
that maintain cell shape and
assist movement of cell parts
• All eukaryotic cells have a
cytoskeleton
– Network of protein fibers
within the cytoplasm
– Found in both plants and
animals
– In animals, used for support
and determine shape
– Fibers can assemble and
disassemble rapidly
– Anchors organelles in place
but also allows them to move
• 3 types of fibers
– Actin filaments, intermediate
filaments, and microtubules
* Not found in plant cells

*Centrioles :
short cylinders
of microtubules
of unknown
functions

*Lysosome :
vesicle that
digests biomolecules
and even cell parts
 * Central vacuole :
* Not found in animal cells large, fluid - filled
sac that stores
substance sand
Helps maintain turgor
pressure

* Chloroplast :
Carries out
photo synthesis,
producing sugars

* Cell wall :
outer surface that
shapes, supports , and
protects cell
 Vesicles allow the organelles of the endomembrane system to work together

Series of membranous organelles that

work together and communicate by
transport vesicles

1. ER,
2. Golgi
apparatus,
3. lysosomes,
and
4. transport
vesicles
S
S

E
E
E
E

T
Y
B
R
A
D

N
N

M
M
M

Protein transport through the endomembrane system

Lysosome
 In Multicellular Organisms, Cells Communicate
Animal cells
• Anchoring junction – in tissues that stretch
• Tight junction – even more close joining
• Gap junctions – strength and communication
• Extracellular matrix (ECM)
Varies from flexible to rock solid
Fibers and glycoproteins

Plant cells
▪ All plant cells have primary cells
walls
▪ Living plant cells connected by
plasmodesmata
▪ Allows direct exchange of
materials