CELL ORGANELLES

FROM THE OUTSIDE IN

• Cell Wall- Description- this is a firm or rigid “shell” around the outside of the cell membrane in plants. Animals DO NOT have cell walls. The Cell Wall is in green in this picture. The yellow inside

is the cell membrane. It is like the walls around a city.

CELL MEMBRANE

• Cell Membrane- Description- the soft thin layer around the cytoplasm of all living cells. Function-it acts to control what substances pass in and out of the cell. It would be like the police or a chain link fence.

CYTOPLASM

• Description- The gel-like fluid inside the cell membrane.• Function- It holds all the organelles.• It is like the air in a city or like the public

swimming pool with all the kids floating in it.

NUCLEUS

• Description- a round kernel shaped object inside the cell.

• Function- it holds and protects all the DNA (genetic material)

• It is like the city hall BUILDING protecting the mayor and the city counsel members.Organisms with a nucleusare called eukaryotes. Eu means true and kary meansNucleus.

THE ORGANELLES

• Mitochondria-Description- bean shaped organelles• Function- these organelles convert the energy in

food into energy the body can use easily.• This would be like a power plant or a generator on

someone’s home.

LYSOSOME

• Lys means to dissolve or decompose.• Som means body• Description-this is a sac inside the cell.• Function-it destroys waste and broken cell parts• It is like a recycling center or a garbage dump.

CHLOROPLAST

• Chlor means green and plast means form• Description- A green oval shaped body• Function- to use the light from the sun to make

food for the plant.• It would be like solar panels in a city.

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

• Description- A series of passageways folded on top of each other.• Function- Proteins and lipids (fats) are produced

here. Proteins on rough ER and lipids on smooth ER.• It would be like a factory for proteins and fats in a

city.

NUCLEAR ENVELOPE/MEMBRANE

• Description- It is a bilayer of fats• Function- It protects the genetic material (DNA)

from the rest of the cell.• It would be like the city hall BUILDING protecting

the mayor and the city counsel.

GOLGI BODIES/APPARATUS

• Description- tightly folded tunnels • Function- It packages proteins to be delivered to

other areas of the cell or body.• It would be like the post office or Fedex

RIBOSOMES

• Description- ball shaped bodies on and around the endoplasmic reticulum.• Function- proteins are made on the ribosomes.• These organelles would be like a factory where a

lot of protein is produced.

VACUOLES

• Description- sac like bodies inside cells• Function- They store water, food and other useful

molecules.• The would be like the storage room, garage or

storage unit.

CHROMATIN

• Description- DNA tightly wrapped around proteins called histones, to wind the DNA up in to twisted bundles.• Function- is to compact the DNA into less volume• It would be like a yarn winding machine.