GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

CELL ORGANELLES
& OTHER SPECIALIZED
CELL STRUCTURES
 Learning Objectives
• To pinpoint the organelle parts of a
cell in both plants and animals
• To compare/contrast the
similarities/differences between plant
and animal cell organelles
• To identify the specific roles and
functions of cell organelles
 What Are Cell Organelles?

Cell organelles (little

organs) are separated
membranous compartments
inside the cells of the organs
of living organisms.

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryote#/media/File:Cell_animal.jpg

Functions of Cell Organelles
• Maintain the shape and structure of cells
• Act as storage of nutrients
• Manufacture proteins
• Harvest energy
• Repair cell parts
• Digest substances
 Cell Organelles

1. Cell membrane
surrounds the cell to
selectively screen the
kinds of substances that
go in and out of the cell.

Image credit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryote#/media/File:Cell_animal.jpg

 2. Cytoplasm is a gel-like
substance made from
dissolved proteins and
liquid encasing the cell
and giving it a fluid
nature.

Image credit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eukaryote#/media/File:Cell_animal.jpg

 3. Nucleus (only found in
eukaryotic cells) stores
the cell’s hereditary DNA
and controls cellular
activities like growth,
metabolism, protein
synthesis and
Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blausen_0212_CellNucleus.png reproduction.
 a. Nucleolus is a sub
organelle of the
nucleus composed of
proteins and
ribonucleic acids (RNA)
whose role is to
assemble rRNA codes
for protein synthesis.
Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blausen_0212_CellNucleus.png
 b. Nuclear envelope
is a double
membrane lipid layer
enclosing the
nucleus to protect
the DNA and
nucleoplasm.
Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blausen_0212_CellNucleus.png
 c. Nuclear pores are
permeable barriers that limit
the entry of proteins and RNA
but allow the free passage of
water, ATP, ions and other
small molecules.

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blausen_0212_CellNucleus.png

 d. Nucleoplasm is a
gelatinous liquid inside
the nucleus containing
the enzymes and
nucleotides.

Image credit: from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleoplasm#/media/File:Diagram_human_cell_nucleus.svg

 e. Chromatin are
cellular bundles
made up of complex
macromolecules of
DNA, RNA and
protein.

Image credit: from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleoplasm#/media/File:Diagram_human_cell_nucleus.svg

 4. Mitochondrion is the
site of cellular respiration
and the production of ATP
energy molecules which
gave it the title
“powerhouse of the cell”.
Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Animal_mitochondrion_diagram_en_(edit).svg
 5. Endoplasmic Reticulum
(ER) is the network of
membranous tubules that
transport the materials
needed by the cell
(nutrients, enzymes,
hormones, etc.).

Image credit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endoplasmic_reticulum#/media/File:Blausen_0350_EndoplasmicReticulum.png
a. Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum

The grainy rough

structure comes from
its attached ribosomes
and is in charge of the
manufacture of
glycoproteins.
b. Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum

The absence of
ribosomes makes it
smooth while taking
charge of the
metabolism/synthesis of
carbohydrates, lipid,
enzymes, etc.
 6. Golgi bodies consist of
stacks of flattened sacs
called cisternae that receive
proteins and fats from the
rough ER for
processing/packing into
sealed droplets called
vesicles that would then be
Image Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golgi_apparatus#/media/File:Blausen_0435_GolgiApparatus.png
stored and distributed to the
other parts of the cell.
 7. Vacuole is a membrane-
enclosed sac for storing
essential materials while
disposing off poisonous or
harmful wastes.
It is larger in plants, where it is
known as tonoplast/central
Image credit:
vacuole that can flexibly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuole#/media/File:Plant_cell_structure_svg_vacuole.svg

expand to absorb water.

 8. Lysosome, is an organelle
found only in animal cells
that is responsible for
intracellular digestion with
the help of hydrolytic
enzymes stored in its
membranes that are
powerful enough to break
down macromolecules.
Image credit: http://images.protopage.com/view/721661/d2xcwgacndd83n36ri3820g14.jpg
9. Chloroplast is found
exclusively in plant
cells and contains the
green chlorophyll
pigments which,
together with the
action of sunlight and
H2O in the process
called photosynthesis,
manufactures food for
the entire plant.
 a. Thylakoid is a
membranous compartment
of flattened sacs that in
turn are made up of
several stacks called
grana.

This is the site of

storage/distribution for the
Image credit: https://opentextbc.ca/biology/wp-content/uploads/sites/96/2015/08/Figure_03_03_09-
manufactured plant food.
e14271309071452.jpg
 b. Stroma is a highly
concentrated fluid
composed of enzymes,
DNA, and ribosomes
where with/without
sunlight, photosynthesis
occurs and carbon dioxide
is converted to glucose.

It is found in the external

spaces of the thylakoid.
Image credit: https://opentextbc.ca/biology/wp-content/uploads/sites/96/2015/08/Figure_03_03_09-
e14271309071452.jpg
Other Special Cell Structures

1. Cytoskeleton, from the

name itself, is the
structure which gives the
cell its shape and form, as
well as the part that keeps
the organelles intact in
their proper places.
 Activity 1
Inferential Observation Report
Name: Section: Date:
Differentiated Functions of the Parts of the Cytoskeleton

Microfilament Microtubule Intermediate Filament

2. Cilia are microscopic hair-like structures
in eukaryotic cells that can be motile or
non-motile.
 a. Non-motile cilia
antenna like role in
receiving sensory
messages to be
transmitted to other
cells. (shown on image
are nasal ciliary
epithelium cells of the
nose)
Image credit:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luis_Palaoro3/publication/239077807/figure/fig4/AS:203011105267715@
1425413027479/Transmission-electron-micrograph-of-cross-section-of-cilia-from-nasal-ciliary-epithelium.png
 b. Motile cilia are
surrounded by mucus or
fluid substances to help
move the cell or
transfer/dispose off
materials.
Sperm cells have motile tails to
move egg cells, those in the
kidneys bend when people
Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilium#/media/File:Bronchiolar_epithelium_3_-_SEM.jpg
urinate, and those in the lungs
sweep off dirt and other toxins.
 3. Microvilli are non-moving
membrane enclosed
projections that increase
secretion, absorption, and
binding/adhesion properties
of cells.

Image credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestinal_villus#/media/File:Small_intestine_low_mag.jpg

4. Root hairs are hairy
membrane enclosed
projections in plant cells
that increase absorption
and surface area for
osmosis.
5. Flagella are tail-like
projections in prokaryotic
and eukaryotic cells that
enable the locomotion of
these organisms.
 Activity 2
Prior knowledge on science and health lessons would tell you that many
organs of the human body have cilia and microvilli. Try to recall them.
Then answer the table below.

This activity will be assigned as homework to be submitted individually on

a clean bond paper. The more you can identify the higher your grade will
be. Some clues have given in the slide presentations and you can still use
them. Example 1 has also been given.

Human Body Organ Cilia or Microvilli Bodily Function

Nose Cilia Smelling and keeping
off dirt