Cell Structure

What are cells?

Cells are the basic, fundamental, structural and functional unit of life.

What are the parts of a cell & their function?

The parts of a cell are called organelle, which means little organ in a cell.

Do Now: Analyse the diagram between an animal cell & plant cell.

The cell is the basic unit of life. In other words, a cell is the smallest thing that is still
considered to be a living thing. Anything smaller is not a living thing.

- All living things are made of cells.

- There are many types of cells and they each have specific jobs.

- All cells come from other cells.

- Organelles found in both plant and animal cells:

- Cytoplasm: the region between the cell membrane and the nucleus. It is mostly
made of water.

- Nucleus: a cell structure that contains genetic material (DNA), the chemical
instructions that direct all the cell’s activities. It can be considered to be the
“headquarters” of the cell.

- Cell membrane: a thin, tough band of protein that that controls which substances
can enter or leave the cell

- Vacuole: a water filled sac inside a cell that acts as a storage area. Vacuoles are
usually much larger in plant cells than they are in animal cells.
- Organelles Found Only Plant Cells:

- Cell wall: a rigid (hard) layer of nonliving material that surrounds the cells of plants
and some other organisms; the cell wall is always outside the cell membrane. Cell
walls give plant cells strength and support.

- Chloroplast: a structure found in the cells of plants and some other organisms that
captures energy from sunlight and uses it to produce food in a process called
photosynthesis.

- Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the chemical which gives

plants their green color and allows photosynthesis (plants making their own
food from sunlight and water and carbon dioxide) to occur.
 Make two columns, one for animal cell parts & the other for plant cell parts; write down a
list of the different parts for the two types of cells. Use a T-chart.

List of cell organelles and functions

Nucleus - control centre of the cell; where chromosomes are located.

Nucleolus - small circular structure(s) within the nucleus; manufactures

ribosomes.

Chromosomes – contains genes which are hereditary genetic material (DNA) found in
the nucleus.

Mitochondria -where cellular respiration occurs by using glucose (carbohydrate) to

produce a chemical energy called ATP.

Ribosomes - use for peptide molecule synthesis (are made); ribosomes are either
free or attached to endoplasmic reticulum.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum – Is where ribosomes are attached to the endoplasmic

reticulum to assemble or synthesize peptide molecules from using amino acids. These
peptide molecules are transported in vast canals or tunnels by the endoplasmic reticulum to
Golgi complex to assemble protein in the cell.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum - synthesis (to make) of fatty acids and steroids.

Golgi complex or apparatus - sorting and “packaging centre” for peptide

molecules to form proteins in vesicles to be exported from cell or use within cell.

Lysosome - vesicle filled with digestive enzymes to break things down or destroy
things.

Centrosome & centriole – gives mitotic (= cell division) spindle fibres for attachment
to chromatin (=DNA) during nucleus cell division.

Plasma membrane or cell membrane is the covering of the cell. It also plays a vital
role in getting nutrients into the cell and sending waste products out.

Chloroplast contains chlorophyll (= green pigment) to capture sun light energy to be

used in photosynthesis. 6CO2 + 6H2O --à C6H12O6 + 6O2
Cell wall covers the cell membrane and offers rigidity to the cell. The cell wall is
made of cellulose, the same thing that paper is made of.
 Vacuoles - are enclosed membrane compartments which are filled with water in
plant cells.

Vesicles – are enclosed membrane compartments which can be filled with water,
protein, and nutrients.

Cytoplasm is the cell fluid that surrounds all the other organelles of the cell, and cell
particulars (minerals, vitamins, peptide molecule, and proteins float in the cell.

Organisms are made from organizations of smaller structures. You need to know
the following hierarchy of structures.

Multicellular plants and animals contain many different types of cell.

Each type of cell is design for a particular function.

Here are examples of cells and their functions in tissues

1. Ciliated cells in respiratory tract

Features: tiny hairs called cilia which can move mucus.

Function: waft mucus with bacteria and dust away from the lungs.
Features: cells merge together to form fibres that can contract.

Function: cause movement

2. Red blood cells

Features: have no nucleus, contain haemoglobin

Function: transport oxygen around the body

3. Root hair cell (plants)

Features: the hair gives a large surface area

Function: absorb water and mineral ions; anchor the plant firmly in
the soil

4. Xylem cells
Features: long, thin cells arranged end-to-end to form vessels (tubes).
The cells lack end wall and cell contents such as cytoplasm and
nucleus. The walls become lignified (woody).

Function: conduction (transport water and mineral ions from

roots to leaves) support (Lignin provides strength for the
stem).

Common misconceptions: Xylem and phloem tissue are often confused. Xylem
carries water and mineral salts, while Phloem transports sugars and amino acids.

In a vascular bundle in a stem, Phloem is on the outside and Xylem is

on the inside.

Example of annotation

Action of phagocyte
 Tissues, Organs and organ Systems

Cells are organized to form tissue, organs, and organ systems. In a

healthy organism, all the systems work together.

SPECIALIZED CELLS

• A specialized cell is designed to do a particular job.

• Nerve cells have long fibres to carry massages.
• Muscle cells can contract and relax.
• White blood cells attack bacteria. · Platelets help
clotting.

TISSUES

• Large numbers of specialized cells make up tissue.

• Muscles, blood and nerves are all tissues.
• Blood tissue contains red cells for carrying oxygen,
white cells for destroying harmful bacteria, and platelets to
cause clotting in cuts

ORGANS

• Various tissues together make up an organ.

• Each organ has its own specific job.
• The heart, the stomach and the brain are all organs.
• The heart has to pump blood around the body. It is
made up of muscle tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
 • Arteries and veins are usually thought of as organ as
they consist of several tissue layers.

ORGAN SYSTEMS: Various organs together make up an organ system. E.g. the
circulatory system carries blood to all parts of the body. It is made up of heart,
arteries, veins, capillaries and blood.

ORGANISM: Various organ systems together make up an organism. A

human organism has:

• Respiratory system
• Digestive system
• Circulatory system
• Nervous system
• Endocrine system

Levels of organisations

Key definitions

• Organelles: a structure within a cell (e.g. nucleus,

vacuole, cytoplasm and chloroplast are all organelles of a plant
cell).
• Tissue: a group of cells with similar structures, working
together to perform a shared function.
• Organ: a structure made up of a group of tissues,
working together to perform specific functions.
• Organ system: a group of organs with related
functions, working together to perform body functions.