Parts of an Animal Cell

and its Functions

By: Cirel Jan V. Perito
Cell Membrane Cytoplasm

Nucleus
Parts of the Cell
Summary
 Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

▪ Smooth ER, is an organelle found in both

animal cells and plant cells.
▪ The main function of the smooth ER is to
make cellular products like hormones and
lipids.
▪ It also distributes those products throughout
the cell and to places in the organism.
 Mitochondrion

▪ Rod-shaped organelles that can be considered

the power generators of the cell
▪ Converts oxygen and nutrients into
adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
▪ ATP is the chemical energy "currency" of the
cell that powers the cell's metabolic activities
Cytosol

▪ Part of the cytoplasm

▪ Contains mainly dissolved proteins,
electrolytes and glucose.
 Lysosome

▪ Spherical vesicles that contain hydrolytic

enzymes that can break down many kinds of
biomolecules.
▪ Also act as the waste disposal system of the
cell by digesting unwanted materials in the
cytoplasm
 Centrioles

▪ Cylindrical cellular organelle composed

mainly of a protein called tubulin
▪ Main function of centrioles is to produce cilia
during interphase and the aster and the
spindle during cell division.
 Centrosome Matrix

▪ A network of small fibers that surrounds the

centrioles in cells
▪ Contains the microtubule nucleating activity
of the centrosome
 Cytoskeletal elements

▪ A complex network of interlinking

filaments and tubules that extend
throughout the cytoplasm
▪ Its primary function would be to
give the cell its shape and
mechanical resistance to
deformation
 Chromatin

▪ A mass of genetic material composed of

DNA and proteins that condense to form
chromosomes during eukaryotic cell
division.
▪ The primary function of chromatin is to
compress the DNA into a compact unit that
will be less voluminous and can fit within
the nucleus
 Nucleolus

▪ Known as the site of ribosome

biogenesis
▪ Nucleoli also participate in the formation
of signal recognition particles and play a
role in the cell's response to stress.
 Nuclear envelope

▪ Consists of two lipid bilayer

membranes, an inner nuclear
membrane, and an outer nuclear
membrane.
▪ Has many nuclear pores that allow
materials to move between the cytosol
and the nucleus.
 Nucleus

▪ Contain most of the cell's genetic

material, organized as multiple long
linear DNA molecules in a complex with a
large variety of proteins
▪ control center of the cell.
 Plasma membrane

▪ Protects the cell from its

environment
▪ Controls the movement of
substances in and out of cells and
organelles
 Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

▪ The face of the rough endoplasmic

reticulum is studded with ribosomes that
are the sites of protein synthesis
▪ Forms an interconnected network of
flattened, membrane-enclosed sacs or
tube-like structures known as cisternae.
 Ribosomes

▪ Serves as the site of biological

protein synthesis.
▪ The ribosomes and associated
molecules are also known as the
translational apparatus.
 Golgi apparatus

▪ Packages proteins into membrane-

bound vesicles inside the cell before
the vesicles are sent to their
destination
 Peroxisome

▪ Peroxisomes absorb nutrients that

the cell has acquired. They are very
well known for digesting fatty acids.
▪ They also play a part in the way
organisms digest alcohol (ethanol).
Summary
Assignment

Read about plant cells and take note of

their differences to an animal cell.