Cell Organelles and Their Functions

Modern electron microscopes use a beam of electrons, rather than light and lenses, to "see" specimens. These instruments magnify objects up to 1,000,0000 times and have helped cell biologists get a better view of cells.

Many of the intricate parts of a cell can now be seen. These parts, called organelles, give cells their various characteristics and are responsible for the many functions that cells perform. The organelles work together in a similar way to the organs and systems that make up your body.

A typical animal cell. Within the cytoplasm, the major organelles and cellular structures include: (1) nucleolus (2) nucleus (3) ribosome (4) vesicle (5) rough endoplasmic reticulum (6) Golgi apparatus (7) cytoskeleton (8) smooth endoplasmic reticulum (9) mitochondria (10) vacuole (11) cytosol (12) lysosome (13) centriole. Image from Wikipedia.

Cell Organelles and Their Functions:

Cell Membrane - Acts as a boundary for the cytoplasm and controls what goes in and out of a cell.

Mitochondria - Contain enzymes that release energy from foods.

Endoplasmic reticulum - A series of channels that connect the nucleus with the rest of the cell. It provides surfaces on which reactions can occur and allows for movement of material throughout the cell.

Ribosomes - Beadlike structures that manufacture proteins.

Golgi bodies - Store fatty substances and manufacture hormones.

Vacuoles - Capture and remove waste products.

Lysosomes - Protect the cell from invasion, break down complex substances to simpler usable forms, break down the cell when it dies.

Centrioles - Guide the chromosomes as they move during cell division.