Download The Cell and Its Structures

The Cell and Its Structures
-
many cells in your body have characteristics in common with microscopic
organisms or cells in a tree or flower.
- one way to understand complex organisms (such as humans) is to study simple
organisms that are only a single cell big
- humans and most other larger organisms are multicellular
- single celled organisms are referred to as unicellular (nothing to do with phones)
Note: you looked at some unicellular organisms last week (e.g. Euglena, paramecium,
diatoms, etc)
- The onion cells showed us what simple plant cells look like
- We’ll get a chance to look at animal cells later on
Cell Parts
- every cell must carry out basic functions to stay alive (obtaining materials and
supplies for energy, making products and getting rid of wastes)
- to carry out these functions, cells must have certain internal structures known as
organelles
A – Cell membrane – surrounds and protects the contents of the cell
B – Cytoplasm – jellylike substance inside the cell that supports other structures and
distributes materials to other organelles
C – Nucleus – controls the cell’s activities (like the brain in humans)
D – Vacuoles – balloonlike spaces within the cytoplasm used for storage
E – Cell Wall – occurs only in cells of plants and fungi – thicker and more rigid than
cell membranes and are made of a tough material called cellulose
F – Chloroplasts – structures within plants and some unicellular organism –
responsible for photosynthesis
PLANT CELL