Parts of a Cell and Their Function

Plant Cell

Animal Cell

Cell Membrane

• Encloses and protects the cell and controls what gets in and out of the cell.

Cytoplasm

• The soup like or gel like substance in which the organelles float

• It is located between the cell membrane and the nuclear membrane

Nucleus

• The ‘brain’ of the cell; the command center; the boss of the cell; contains the DNA and RNA (instructions) for the cell

Eukaryotic vs. Prokaryotic

• Big words that simply mean ‘has a nucleus’ or ‘does not have a nucleus’

• ‘Eu’ means do (does have a nucleus), ‘Pro’ means no (does NOT have a nucleus)

Nucleolus

• Part of the nucleus• Makes the ribosomes

Nuclear Membrane

• Encloses and protects the nucleus and controls what gets in and out of the nucleus

Ribosomes

• Produce protein for the cell

Lysosome

• Help eliminate waste from cell; the garbage men

Golgi Apparatus/Complex

• Packages up the proteins that the ribosomes produce for transport by the endoplasmic reticulum

Endoplasmic Reticulum

• Transportation system for the cell; transports protein around the cell

Mitochondria

• The powerhouse of the cell; the battery; converts food into energy

Vacuole

• Storage tank for the cell• Note: Much larger in a plant cell than an

animal cell.

Chlorplasts

• What make a plant green; allow a plant to make energy through photosynthesis

• Note: Found ONLY in plant cells.

Cell Wall

• Protects the cell and gives the cell its rigid shape

• Note: Found ONLY in plant cells.

Main Differences Between A Plant and An Animal Cell

1. Plant cells have a cell wall and animal cells do NOT.2. Plant cells have chloroplasts and animal cells do

not.3. Plant cells have larger vacuoles than animal cells.