PARTS OF THE ANIMAL CELL

start

animal cell

horizontal infographic

The typical eukaryotic animal cell contains membranous organelles and nonmembranous organelles in the cytoplasm, which characterize it and allow it to perform heterotrophic nutrition.

Composition

• The shape of this organelle varies depending on the cell in which it is found, but it is usually round.

Quantity

• Normally, eukaryotic cells have only one nucleus, but there can be exceptions.

Nucleus

Function

• Processing and managing cell information.

Function

• Responsible for producing, storing, and transporting proteins.

Characteristics

• It gets its name due to the appearance of ribosomes attached to its surface.

rough endoplasmic reticulum

Function

• Responsible for the production of lipids.

smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Function

• Contains digestive enzymes with which to perform cellular digestion.

lysosomes

Composition

• Consists of sacks and vesicles from the endoplasmic reticulum.

Function

• Here, the substances produced in the endoplasmic reticulum are modified and vesicles are generated that will form part of other cellular organelles or be expelled.

Golgi apparatus

Function

• They are large organelles that are responsible for obtaining the energy needed by the cell through cellular respiration. It uses oxygen to oxidize the organic matter that reaches it, and energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) are released.

Composition

• They have an elongated shape and have two membranes: an internal membrane that folds into ridges and a smooth external membrane.

mitochondria

Characteristics

• They are normally found in the centrosome, an area of the cytoplasm near the nucleus.

Function

• Involved in cellular division, forming the spindle and cytoskeleton.

Composition

• They are cylindrical organelles, exclusive to animal cells.

centrioles

Composition

• All cell structures are surrounded by a plasma membrane, whose composition is similar to that of membranous organelles.

Function

• Controls the exchange of substances from the cell with the external environment, that is, the food that enters and the waste that is expelled.

plasma membrane