LESSON 2: CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, students must be able to:
❑ Describe the structure and function of major and subcellular organelles; and
❑ Make an illustration of an animal and plant cell.
FACTS!
All cells share four common structures. These are:
• Plasma Membrane or Cell membrane
• Cytoplasm
• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
• Ribosomes

Structure of Cell
▪ All activities inside the cell and interactions of the cell with its environment are possible due to
its structure.
▪ The detailed structure of a cell has been studied under compound microscope and electron
microscope.

Structure of Cell
a. Plasma Membrane/Cell Membrane
b. Cell wall
c. Nucleus
d. Nuclear membrane
e. Nucleolus
f. Cytoplasm
g. Endoplasmic Reticulum
h. Ribosomes
i. Mitochondria
j. Lysosome
k. Vacuoles
l. Chloroplast
m. Cytoskeleton

PLASMA MEMBRANE/ CELL MEMBRANE

• It is a network of lipids and proteins that forms the boundary between the cell’s contents and
the outside of the cell.
• Extremely delicate, thin, elastic, and semi-permeable membrane.

Functions:
1. Maintains the shape and size of the cell.
2. Protects internal contents of the cell.
3. Regulates entry and exit of substances in and out of the cell.
CELL WALL
• Outermost covering of a cell (plants, algae, and bacteria)
• Made up of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin
• Multi-layered structure

Functions:
1. Maintains cellular and tissue integrity.
2. Prevents drying up (desiccation) of cells
3. Helps in controlling cell expansion.

NUCLEUS
• Dense spherical body located near the center of the cell.
• Well developed in plant and animal cells
• Separated from cytoplasm by nuclear membrane

Functions :
1. Control all activities like metabolism, protein synthesis, growth and cell division
2. Contains genetic material - DNA

NUCLEAR MEMBRANE
• A double layer (bilipid layer) that encloses the cell’s nucleus

Functions:
1. Separates the chromosomes from the cell’s cytoplasm and other contents.
2. Small holes/pores in the nuclear membrane permits the selective passage of nucleic acid and
proteins, between the nucleus and cytoplasm

NUCLEOLUS
Functions:
1. Inside the nucleus
2. Contains RNA to build proteins

CYTOPLASM
• Jelly-like material formed by 80% of water.
• Contains a clear liquid portion called “cytosol” and various particles (proteins, carbohydrates,
nucleic acid, lipids, and organic ions.

Functions:
1. Contains hereditary material
2. Support and suspend organelles and cellular molecules
3. Helps to move materials such as hormones, around the cell and also dissolves cellular waste
ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
Functions:
• Gives internal support to the cytoplasm.

2 types:
smooth and rough
• Smooth ER – storage of special enzymes & chemicals; contains enzymes for phospholipid
synthesis.
• Rough ER – involved in synthesis of proteins (ribosomes stuck to it)

RIBOSOMES
• smallest of organelles
• assembled in nucleolus

Functions:
1. composed of RNA & protein
2. some attached to membranes while others free in cytoplasm
3. free in cytoplasm: makes proteins for use w/in cell
4. attached to RER - makes proteins for export out of cell

MITOCHONDRIA
Functions:
• Produces energy (ATP) through chemical reactions – breaking down fats & carbohydrates
• Controls level of water and other materials in cell
• Recycles and decomposes proteins, fats, and carbohydrates

ATP = adenosine triphosphate

GOLGI BODY
Functions:
• Protein 'packaging plant’
• Modifies, sorts and packs materials synthesized in the cell
• Delivers synthesized materials (proteins) to various targets inside and outside the cell
• Forms plasma membrane and lysosomes

LYSOSOME
• Small, spherical, single membrane sac found throughout the cytoplasm.
• Occur in most animal cells and in few types of plant cell.
• Responsible for destroying worn out cells

Functions:
1. Digestive 'plant' for proteins, fats, and carbohydrates
2. Transports undigested material to cell membrane for removal
3. Cell breaks down if lysosome explodes
4. Protects cells from destroying foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses

VACUOLES
• Single membrane sac filled with liquid or sap (water, sugar and ions)
• In plant cells: large and more in number
• In animal cells: temporary, small in size and few in number

Functions:
1. Membrane-bound sacs for storage, digestion, and waste removal
2. Contains water solution
3. Help plants maintain shape
4. Maintain osmotic pressure of the cell

CHLOROPLAST
• A type of plastid – round, oval, or diskshaped body that is involved in the synthesis and
storage of food stuff.
• Distinguished from other types of plastids by their GREEN color.

Functions:
1. Usually found in plant cells
2. Contains green chlorophyll
3. Where photosynthesis takes place

CYTOSKELETON
• framework of the cell composed of a variety of filaments & fibers that support cell structure and
drive cell movement

Functions:
It is composed of a variety of filaments & fibers that support cell structure & drive cell movement.
1. microtubules (hollow tubes made of proteins) – support, move organelles through cell, role
in cell division by forming centrioles (animal & eukaryotic cells but not in plants)
2. cilia & flagella – help move substances around cell
3. microfilaments – (solid filaments of protein) movement & support of cell