Download Specialized Cell Structures

Cell Wall
 Description:
 Rigid outer layer
 Outside of cell membrane
 Function:
 Support
 Protection
 Helps cell maintain its shape
 Analogy
Cell Membrane
(Plasma Membrane)
 Description:
 Outside covering of cell made of lipid bilayer
 Function:
 Barrier between cell and its environment
 Controls what substances can enter or leave
the cell
 Provides support and protection, especially in
cells without a cell wall
 Analogy
Ribosomes
 Description:
 Made of protein and RNA
 Very small, spherical shaped
 Function:
 Make proteins
 Analogy
Cytoplasm
 Description:
 Jelly-like substance that fills the cell and
surrounds the organelles
 Function:
 Fills space between organelles
 Contains materials needed by the organelles
 Analogy
Flagella
 Description:
 Long, thread-like extension of a cell
 Function:
 Helps cell move
 Analogy
Cilia
 Description:
 Short, hair-like projection on the cell
surface
 Function:
 Used to sweep away things from the cell
surface or help the cell move through
fluid
 Analogy
Nucleus
 Description:
 Core, central portion of cell
 Function:
 Contains genetic information (DNA)
 Directs cell activities
 Analogy
Nuclear Membrane
 Description:
 Double-layer membrane surrounding the
nucleus
 Function:
 Separates nucleoplasm from cytoplasm
 Analogy
Nucleolus
 Description:
 Round structure within nucleus
 Made of protein and RNA
 Function:
 Makes ribosomes
 Analogy
Chloroplast
 Description:
 Oval or bean shaped structure with
green color
 Function:
 Helps capture sunlight to produce food
(energy) for plants
 Analogy
Golgi Apparatus
 Description:
 Flattened sacs called cisternae
 Function:
 Modifies and packages materials created in
the cell for transport (inside or outside of the
cell)
 Analogy
Lysosome
 Description:
 Small sacs
 Function:
 Use digestive enzymes to breakdown
old/worn-out organelles, viruses or bacteria,
and/or food particles
 Analogy
Mitochondrion
 Description:
 Spherical or rod-shaped
 Inner and outer membranes
 Function:
 Converts sugars into ATP (energy) for
the cell
 Analogy
Plastid
 Description:
 Double-membrane bound organelle
 Function:
 Involved in food storage; function
depends mostly upon which pigments
are present
 Analogy
Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum
 Description:
 System of membranous tubes and sacs with
ribosomes on the surface (making it appear
rough)
 Function:
 Helps make and transport new proteins to Golgi
apparatus or outside of the cell
 Analogy
Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum
 Description:
 System of membranous tubes and sacs
 Function:




Makes lipids
Creates and stores steroids
Stores ions that cells might need
Metabolizes carbohydrates
 Analogy
Vacuole
 Description:
 Sacs: smaller in animal cells, larger in
plant cells
 Function:
 Store a variety of things such as water,
nutrients, or waste products
 Analogy
Vesicle
 Description:
 Small sacs
 Function:
 Stores, transports, or digests materials
within the cell
 Analogy