Parts and Functions of an Animal Cell
NUCLEUS nucleus controls and regulates the activities of
the cell (e.g., growth and metabolism) and
carries the genes, structures that contain the
hereditary information
GOLGI APARATUS functions as a factory in which proteins
received from the ER are further processed
and sorted for transport to their eventual
destinations: lysosomes, the plasma
membrane, or secretion. In addition, as noted
earlier, glycolipids and sphingomyelin are
synthesized within the Golgi.
MITOCHONDRIA Powerhouse of the cell
LYSOSOME function as the digestive system of the cell,
serving both to degrade material taken up
from outside the cell and to digest obsolete
components of the cell itself.
ENDOPLASTIC RETICULUM in general, its function is to produce proteins
for the rest of the cell to function.
SMOOTH E.R The smooth ER is involved in the synthesis of
lipids, including cholesterol and
phospholipids, which are used in the
production of new cellular membrane. In
certain cell types, smooth ER plays an
important role in the synthesis of steroid
hormones from cholesterol.
ROUGH E.R The rough endoplasmic reticulum has on it
ribosomes, which are small, round organelles
whose function it is to make those proteins.
CYTOPLASM Jelly-like substance, where chemical reactions
happen
CELL MEMBRANE protect and organize cells. All cells have an
outer plasma membrane that regulates not
only what enters the cell, but also how much
of any given substance comes in.
VACUOLES Contains a liquid called cell sap, which keeps the
cell firm
