OrganellesQuick reference guide

Cell membrane

• Location: all cells• Functions: regulates what enters and leaves the cell; its

semi-permeable• Forms a boundary between the cell and its environment•Key features to look for:

-it is thin-surrounds the cell-on cells with a cell wall, it is inside the cell wall

Cell Wall

• Location: plant cells, bacteria, some fungi• Function: strong outer layer made of cellulose; gives shape and

support to cell.•Key features to look for: rigid outermost layer of a plant cell

Nucleus

• Location: all eukaryotic cellsfunction: “control center” of the cell; controls all the cell functionscontains DNA organized into chromosomes•Key features to look for:

-usually in the center of the cell; round/spherical shaped-the biggest organelle in an animal cell-surrounded by endoplasmic reticulum

Endoplasmic Reticulum (rough)

• Location: all eukaryotic cellsfunction: rough E.R.: has ribosomes; helps produce and transports proteins; large surface area for chemical reactions to occur

•Key features to look for:-folded membrane; surrounds nucleus-studded with ribosomes (little dots all over it)

Endoplasmic Reticulum (smooth)

• Location: all eukaryotic cells function: contains enzymes to make and transport lipids

key features: Around nucleus, usually on the outside of the rough endoplasmic reticulum-looks like rough E.R., but has NO ribosomes!!

Golgi Body (apparatus)

• Location: all eukaryotic cellsfunction: the “post office” of the cell: gets proteins and lipids from E.R., modifies, sorts, and packages them to send to other organelles and the cell membrane. •Key features to look for:

-located away from the nucleus-looks like closely stacked, flattened membranes (almost like pancakes)

Mitochondria

• Location: all eukaryotic cellsfunction: the “power house” of the cell; breaks down glucose to release energy through the process of cellular respiration. •Key features to look for:

-small; bean shaped, has folds of membranes in the center that look like squiggly lines

Chloroplast

• Location: all plant cells and some prokaryotes (bacteria)function: performs photosynthesis…makes food by trapping light energy and converting it to chemical energy for cellular respiration•Key features to look for:

-bean shaped, usually GREEN in color diagrams-looks like it has stacks of pennies inside

Ribosomes

• Location: all cells function: site of protein synthesis•Key features to look for:

-tiny dots-mostly found on rough E.R. but some are free-floating in the cytoplasm

Vacuole

• Location: large and central in plant cells; small in animal cells (not always present; most have vesicles instead)function: stores food, water, waste, enzymes•Key features to look for:

-very large and central in plant cells-tiny or not present in animal cells; animal cells usually have vesicles

lysosome

• Location: animal cellsfunction: “garbage disposal” of the cell; breaks down worn out cell parts, food, invading viruses and bacteria•Key features to look for:

-look like small circles free floating in the cytoplasm

cytoplasm

• Location: all cells function: surrounds the organelles; jelly like substance where chemical reactions can take place•Key features to look for:

-usually clear fluid-outside nucleus-jelly-like