CELL STRUCTURES
AND FUNCTIONS
Directions: Read and analyze the
analogy of the cell below. Match the
parts of the city (underlined words)
with the parts of the cell in the table.
Cell City Analogy
In a faraway city called Grant City, the main export and
production product is the steel widget. Everyone in the town has
something to do with steel widget making and the entire town is design
ed to build and export widgets. The town hall has the instructions for
widget making, widgets come in all shapes and sizes and any citizen
of Grant can get the instructions and begin making their own widgets.
Widgets are generally produced in small shops around the city; these
small shops can be built by the carpenters’ union (whose
headquarters are in town hall).
Cell City Analogy
After the widget is constructed, they are placed on
special carts which can deliver the widget anywhere in the city. In
order for a widget to be exported, the carts take the widget to the
postal office, where the widgets are packaged and labeled for export.
Sometimes widgets don't turn out right, and the "rejects" are sent to
the scrap yard where they are broken down for parts or destroyed
altogether. The town powers the widget shops and carts from a
hydraulic dam that is in the city. The entire city is enclosed by a large
wooden fence, only the postal trucks (and citizens with proper
passports) are allowed outside the city.
Cell City Analogy
Cell Part Part in City
Protein
Cell Membrane
Ribosome
Rough Endoplasmic Reticul
um
Golgi Apparatus
Nucleus
Nucleolus
Mitochondria
Guide Questions
1. What are the four common components of all
cells?
2. What are the structures and functions of a cell’s
organelles?
3. What organelles are present in an animal cell?
4. What organelles are present in a plant cell?
What’s Inside of a Cell?
• An organelle (think of it as a cell’s internal organ) is a
membrane bound structure found within a cell. Just
like cells have membranes to hold everything in; these
mini-organs are also bound in a double layer of
phospholipids to insulate their little compartments
within the larger cells. You can think of organelles as
smaller rooms within the factory, with specialized
conditions to help these rooms carry out their specific
task.
What’s Inside of a Cell?
• All cells share a four common components: the plasma
membrane or cell membrane, cytoplasm, DNA and
ribosomes.
• A cell has three fundamental parts: the cell membrane,
cytoplasm, and the nucleus.
Organelles of a cell
• Plasma Membrane or Cell Membrane
Also known as plasmalemma.
Serves as the outer boundary of the cell. Ranging
from 7.5-10 nm, it is so thin that it could be hardly be
noticed under the light microscope.
A phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins that
separates the internal contents of the cell from its
surrounding environment.
Organelles of a cell
• Plasma Membrane or Cell Membrane
Separates the contents of the cell from the external
environment.
It controls the passage of organic molecules, ions,
water and oxygen into and out of the cell.
It is differently permeable. Some materials can pass
through it readily, others not at all.
Organelles of a cell
• Cytoplasm
The entire region of a cell between the cell
membrane and the nuclear envelope.
Contains all the necessary life-sustaining
components.
Consists of a gel-like or thick semifluid aggregate of
chemical compounds called cytosol, the
cytoskeleton, various organelles and internal
membrane or cytomembrane.
Organelles of a cell
• Cytoplasm
It is composed of inorganic and organic compound.
The organic compounds consists of proteins, fats or
lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acid. The inorganic
compounds such as water, constitute the nonliving
matter.
The cytoplasm is largely water.
Serves as the reservoir for the entry and exit of
materials in the cell. And it has a machinery for maint
aining the shape and general form of the cell.
Organelles of a cell
• Nucleus
Generally an oval-shaped or spherical-shaped structure.
Particularly in animals, it is the most conspicuous part of the cell.
Usually located at the center, it is known as the control center of
the cell.
Nucleus houses DNA. It regulates and coordinates all the
activities of the cell. It is filled with a semifluid medium called
nucleoplasm or karyoplasm, also known as nuclear sap, which is
separated from the cytoplasm by a nuclear membrane or nuclear
envelope.
Suspended in the nucleoplasm is the nucleolus, which is
composed of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein molecules.
Nucleolus is the site where the subunits of ribosomes are formed.
Organelles of a cell
• Ribosomes
Found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, they are
the site of protein synthesis.
They receive coded messages from DNA as to the
kind of protein to be synthesized or produced.
Some ribosomes are bound or attached to the
endoplasmic reticulum. Other are free or suspended
in the cytosol.
Cytosol is the aqueous component of the cytoplasm
of a cell, within which various organelles and
particles are suspended.
Organelles of a cell
• Mitochondria
Known as the powerhouse or energy factories of
eukaryotic cells because they are responsible for
making adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – the main
carrier of energy in cells.
They harness energy by breaking down food. They
are also sites of cellular respiration. Cellular
respiration is the process of making ATP using the
chemical energy found in glucose and other
nutrients.
Organelles of a cell
• Mitochondria
Mitochondria is bounded by double membrane. Each
membrane is phospholipid bilayer embedded with
proteins.
The inner layer has folds called cristae which provide
more surface for greater cellular respiratory
productivity. The area surrounded by the folds is called
the mitochondrial matrix – filled with semifluid medium
containing enzymes that break down carbohydrate
products. The narrow region between the inner and
outer membranes is called the intermembrane space.
Organelles of a cell
• Endomembrane Systems
Refers to a network of pathways through which
material flows to the different parts of the cytoplasm.
Also serve as a passage for the entry and exit of
certain substances in the cell.
Organelles of a cell
Endomembrane Systems
A. Endoplasmic Reticulum
Consists of flattened sheets, sacs and tubes of membranes
that extends throughout the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cell. It
modifies proteins and synthesizes lipids.
a. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)
Flattened sheets studded on its outer surface with small
spherical bodies. Ribosomes are attached to its
cytoplasmic surface. Engaged in protein synthesis.
b. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)
Continuous with the RER but has few or no ribosomes on
its cytoplasmic surface. Site for synthesizing
carbohydrates, lipids and steroid hormones.
A cisterna (plural cisternae) is a flattened
membrane disk of the endoplasmic
reticulum and Golgi apparatus
Organelles of a cell
Endomembrane Systems
B. Golgi Apparatus
Named after Camillo Golgi who discovered it in
1898. Also called the Golgi bodies or Golgi complex.
A system of flattened, membrane-bound sacs that
looks like a stack of pancakes. It involved in
modifying, sorting, packaging macromolecules for
secretion or for delivery to other organelles.
Organelles of a cell
Endomembrane Systems
B. Golgi Apparatus
Associated with the apparatus are the rounded
vesicles which have been pinched off from the ends
of the flattened sacs of the Golgi apparatus and are
believed to be carriers of materials between the
apparatus and the other parts of the cell.
The receiving side of the Golgi apparatus is called
cis face. The opposite side is the called the trans
face.
Organelles of a cell
Endomembrane Systems
C. Lysosomes
Also produced by the Golgi apparatus. Known as
digestive sacs in the cell.
They contain hydrolytic or digestive enzymes for the
breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and fats or
lipids within the cell. They play a role in the
destruction or repair of defective parts of the cell.
Organelles of a cell
Endomembrane Systems
D. Peroxisomes
Membrane-bound vesicles which contain oxidative
enzymes.
They have enzymes for oxidizing certain organic
molecules resulting in the formation of hydrogen
peroxide.
Oxidizes and thus breaks down fatty acids and
amino acids, and detoxifies poisons.
Organelles of a cell
Endomembrane Systems
E. Vesicles and Vacuoles
The large membranous storage sacs in cells are call
ed vacuoles; the smaller ones are known as
vesicles.
Vacuoles in animal cells vary in their uses: some are
for storage of water or food, while other are for
excretion of waste materials. In plant cells, they are
very large, occupying up to 90% of the cell volume.
They function for intracellular digestions, space
filling and control of cell turgor.
Organelles of a cell
• Cytoskeleton
Is a network of interconnected protein filaments
which extends throughout the cytoplasm.
Three types of cytoskeleton: actin filaments/microfila
ments, intermediate filaments and microtubules.
They provide the cells structural support and are
responsible for cell shape and motility.
Organelles of a cell
• Plastids
Double-membrane organelle found in plant and
photosynthetic protists. They serve as storage
containers of pigments and starch molecules.
Plastids are classified into three: chloroplasts,
chromoplasts and leucoplasts.
Chloroplasts are the green-colored plastids. They gre
en color is due to a class of green pigment called
chlorophyll.
The chromoplasts are the colored plastids
The leucoplasts are colorless plastids.
Directions: In your own understanding, complete
the following statements.
1. Let me tell you about some of the important
things I’ve learned about cells. First, I’ll start
with ________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
2. Next, I’ll tell you about ______________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
3. Something else I learned was _______________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Will be uploaded through
google form.
Thank you for
listening and
participating
