Cell

Cell is the basic membrane-bound unit that contains the fundamental molecules of life and of which all living
things are composed. A single cell is often a complete organism in itself, such as a bacterium or yeast. Other cells acquire
specialized functions as they mature. These cells cooperate with other specialized cells and become the building blocks of
large multicellular organisms, such as animals and humans. Although cells are much larger than atoms, they are still very
small. The smallest known cells are a group of tiny bacteria called mycoplasmas; some of these single-celled organisms
are spheres about 0.3 micrometre in diameter, with a total mass of 10
14
gramequal to that of 8,000,000,000 hydrogen
atoms. Cells of humans typically have a mass 400,000 times larger than the mass of a single mycoplasma bacterium, but
even human cells are only about 20 micrometres across. It would require a sheet of about 10,000 human cells to cover
the head of a pin, and each human organism is composed of more than 75,000,000,000,000 cells.
Plant Cell
Plant cells are eukaryotic cells , or cells with a membrane-bound nucleus. Unlike prokaryotic cells , the DNA in a
plant cell is housed within the nucleus. In addition to having a nucleus, plant cells also contain other membrane-bound
organelles, or tiny cellular structures, that carry out specific functions necessary for normal cellular operation. Organelles
have a wide range of responsibilities that include everything from producing hormones and enzymes to providing energy
for a plant cell.

Plant cells are similar to animal cells in that they are both eukaryotic cells and have similar organelles. Plant cells
are generally larger than animal cells. While animal cells come in various sizes and tend to have irregular shapes, plant
cells are more similar in size and are typically rectangular or cube shaped. A plant cell also contains structures not found
in an animal cell. Some of these include a cell wall , a large vacuole, and plastids. Plastids, such as chloroplasts , assist in
storing and harvesting needed substances for the plant. Animal cells also contain structures such
as centrioles , lysosomes , and cilia and flagella that are not typically found in plant cells.



The following is a plant cell anatomy terms:

amyloplast - an organelle in some plant cells that stores starch. Amyloplasts are found in starchy plants like tubers and
fruits.
ATP - ATP is short for adenosine triphosphate; it is a high-energy molecule used for energy storage by organisms.
In plant cells, ATP is produced in the cristae of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
Cell membrane - the thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds the cell, but is inside the cell wall. The cell membrane is
semipermeable, allowing some substances to pass into the cell and blocking others.
Cell wall - a thick, rigid membrane that surrounds a plant cell. This layer of cellulose fiber gives the cell most of its
support and structure. The cell wall also bonds with other cell walls to form the structure of the plant.
Centrosome - (also called the "microtubule organizing center") a small body located near the nucleus - it has a dense
center and radiating tubules. The centrosome is where microtubules are made. During cell division (mitosis), the
centrosome divides and the two parts move to opposite sides of the dividing cell. Unlike the centrosomes in animal cells,
plant cell centrosomes do not have centrioles.
Chlorophyll - chlorophyll is a molecule that can use light energy from sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide gas into
sugar and oxygen (this process is called photosynthesis). Chlorophyll is magnesium based and is usually green.
Chloroplast - an elongated or disc-shaped organelle containing chlorophyll. Photosynthesis (in which energy from
sunlight is converted into chemical energy - food) takes place in the chloroplasts.
Cristae - (singular crista) the multiply-folded inner membrane of a cell's mitochondrion that are finger-like projections. The
walls of the cristae are the site of the cell's energy production (it is where ATP is generated).
Cytoplasm - the jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located.
Golgi body - (also called the Golgi apparatus or Golgi complex) a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that looks like a
stack of pancakes and is located near the nucleus. The Golgi body packages proteins and carbohydrates into membrane-
bound vesicles for "export" from the cell.
Granum - (plural grana) a stack of thylakoid disks within the chloroplast is called a granum.
Mitochondrion - spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many
times, forming a series of projections (called cristae). The mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) for the cell.
Nuclear membrane - the membrane that surrounds the nucleus.
Nucleolus - an organelle within the nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is produced.
Nucleus - spherical body containing many organelles, including the nucleolus. The nucleus controls many of the functions
of the cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and contains DNA (in chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the
nuclear membrane
photosynthesis - a process in which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food energy (sugars and
starches), oxygen and water. Chlorophyll or closely-related pigments (substances that color the plant) are essential to the
photosynthetic process.
Ribosome - small organelles composed of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis.
Rough endoplasmic reticulum - (rough ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted
sacks that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). Rough ER is
covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance. Rough ER transport materials through the cell and produces
proteins in sacks called cisternae (which are sent to the Golgi body, or inserted into the cell membrane).
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum - (smooth ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted
tubes that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). The space within
the ER is called the ER lumen. Smooth ER transport materials through the cell. It contains enzymes and produces and
digests lipids (fats) and membrane proteins; smooth ER buds off from rough ER, moving the newly-made proteins and
lipids to the Golgi body and membranes
Stroma - part of the chloroplasts in plant cells, located within the inner membrane of chloroplasts, between the grana.
Thylakoid disk - thylakoid disks are disk-shaped membrane structures in chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll.
Chloroplasts are made up of stacks of thylakoid disks; a stack of thylakoid disks is called a granum. Photosynthesis (the
production of ATP molecules from sunlight) takes place on thylakoid disks.
Vacuole - a large, membrane-bound space within a plant cell that is filled with fluid. Most plant cells have a single vacuole
that takes up much of the cell. It helps maintain the shape of the cell.
Animal Cell
All animal cells are multicellular. They are eukaryotic cells. Animal cells are surrounded by plasma membrane and
it contains the nucleus and organelles that are membrane bound.
Animal cells are of various sizes and have irregular shapes. Most of the cells size range between 1 and 100 micrometers
and are visible only with help of microscope. Trillions of cells are found in the human body. There are many different types
of cells, approximately 210 distinct cell types in adult human body.


The following is the animal cell anatomy terms:
Cell membrane - the thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds the cell. The cell membrane is semipermeable, allowing
some substances to pass into the cell and blocking others.
Centrosome - (also called the "microtubule organizing center") a small body located near the nucleus - it has a dense
center and radiating tubules. The centrosomes is where microtubules are made. During cell division (mitosis), the
centrosome divides and the two parts move to opposite sides of the dividing cell. The centriole is the dense center of the
centrosome.
Cytoplasm - the jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located.
Golgi body - (also called the Golgi apparatus org complex) a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that looks like a stack
of pancakes and is located near the nucleus. It produces the membranes that surround the lysosomes. The Golgi body
packages proteins and carbohydrates into membrane-bound vesicles for "export" from the cell.
Lysosome - (also called cell vesicles) round organelles surrounded by a membrane and containing digestive enzymes.
This is where the digestion of cell nutrients takes place.
Mitochondrion - spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many
times, forming a series of projections (called cristae). The mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) for the cell.
Nuclear membrane - the membrane that surrounds the nucleus.
Nucleolus - an organelle within the nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is produced. Some cells have more than one
nucleolus.
Nucleus - spherical body containing many organelles, including the nucleolus. The nucleus controls many of the functions
of the cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and contains DNA (in chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the
nuclear membrane.
Ribosome - small organelles composed of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis.
Rough endoplasmic reticulum - (rough ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted
sacks that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). Rough ER is
covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance. Rough ER transports materials through the cell and produces
proteins in sacks called cisternae (which are sent to the Golgi body, or inserted into the cell membrane).
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum - (smooth ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted
tubes that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). The space within
the ER is called the ER lumen. Smooth ER transports materials through the cell. It contains enzymes and produces and
digests lipids (fats) and membrane proteins; smooth ER buds off from rough ER, moving the newly-made proteins and
lipids to the Golgi body, lysosomes, and membranes.
Vacuole - fluid-filled, membrane-surrounded cavities inside a cell. The vacuole fills with food being digested and waste
material that is on its way out of the cell.