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Cell Structure and Function

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The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal

Cells

You should be able to:

■ draw and label simple diagrams to show the structure
of unspecialised plant and animal cells;
■ state the functions and explain the importance of
the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, chromosomes,
cytoplasm, mitochondria, vacuoles and chloroplast;
and
■ differentiate between plant and animal cells.

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The Cell Theory

1. All organisms are made of cells.
2. The cell is the basic unit of life in all living
things.
3. All cells come from existing cells.

THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT ALL LIVING

THINGS SHARE A SIMILAR STRUCTURE

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 Cell Structure and Function

Two Types of Cells

Prokaryotic Cells:
• Have no membrane
covered nucleus
• Have no membrane -
covered organelles
• Have circular DNA
• Are bacteria

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Prokaryotes

• Nucleoid region
(center) contains the
DNA
• Surrounded by cell
membrane & cell wall
(peptidoglycan)
• Contain ribosomes (no
membrane) in their
cytoplasm to make
proteins
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 Cell Structure and Function

Two Types of Cells

Eukaryotic Cells:
• Have a nucleus
• Have a membrane -
covered organelles
• Have linear DNA
• Are all other cells

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Eukaryotes

• Cells that HAVE a

nucleus and
membrane-bound
organelles
• Includes protists, fungi,
plants, and animals
• More complex type of
cells

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Eukaryotic Cell
Contain 3 basic cell
structures:
•Nucleus
•Cell Membrane
•Cytoplasm with
organelles

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Two Main Types of Eukaryotic Cells

Plant Cell Animal Cell

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The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

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Animal Cell

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The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

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Plant Cell

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The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure of Unspecialised Plant and Animal Cell

Animal and plant cells have the following features in common:

• Cell membrane
• Cytoplasm
• Nucleus
• Vacuole
• Mitochondria

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Differences between plant and animal cells:

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Structure and Function of the Cell and Its

Organelles

Cell membrane – a cell’s protective coat

• It separates and protects a cell from its
surrounding environment.
• It consists of a double layer of phospholipids.
Embedded within are other molecules such as
proteins, that act as channels and pumps to move
different molecules into and out of the cell.
• It controls the movement of substances into and
out of the cell and is said to be partially
permeable.
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Cell Membrane in Plants

Cell membrane
• Lies immediately
against the cell
wall in plant cells
• Pushes out
against the cell
wall to maintain
cell shape

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 Cell Structure and Function

Cell Membrane
• Outer layer of cell
• Allows nutrients into
the cell and wastes
outside of the cell

“Gate into the city”

Cell Membrane
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The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Cytoplasm – a cell’s inner space

• It is the watery material between the nucleus and the cell
membrane with a jelly-like consistency.
• It contains mainly water and dissolved materials, allowing
materials to move around the cell through a process called
cytoplasmic streaming.
• The function of the cytoplasm, and the organelles which reside
in it, are critical for a cell’s survival.

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 Cell Structure and Function

Cytoplasm

•Cytoplasm a
jelly-like fluid
contained in
the cell that
holds the
organelles.

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More on Cytoplasm

cytoplasm

• Contains organelles
to carry out
specific jobs
• Found in ALL cells

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Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Nucleus – a cell’s centre

• It is usually spherical, separated from the cytoplasm by a
double membrane called the nuclear envelope.
• It stores deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is wound into
structures called chromatin. DNA is the genetic material of an
organism, carrying instructions for cell activities and heredity.
• Its function therefore, is to protect the cell’s genetic material
and control cell activities. It plays an important role in DNA
replication and protein synthesis (see Chapter 20).

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 Cell Structure and Function

The Nucleus
DNA • The control center
of the cell
• Contains the Cell’s
DNA

Nucleolus

Nuclear Membrane
“Mayor’s office”

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Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Vacuole – a cell’s storage space

• In a plant cell, the vacuole is a permanent structure with a fixed
shape, occupying a large central part of the cell. It is
surrounded by a membrane (tonoplast) and contains cell sap, a
solution of mineral salts and sugars.
• Plant cells pump a lot of water into the vacuoles which expand
and push against the cell wall. This creates a turgor pressure
which is important to the plant to keep the cells turgid and thus
provide support to the plant (see Chapter 4).

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Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Vacuole – a cell’s storage space

• In animal cells, the vacuoles are small and scattered throughout
the cytoplasm. They are
temporary structures and are
membrane-bound sacs which have
various functions such as:
• transporting materials,
• storing sugars,
• containing digestive enzymes to digest invading bacteria,
• helping the cell to expel excess water.

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 Cell Structure and Function

Vacuole
• Stores water, food
Vacuole & wastes

Vacuole is largest organelle

in plant cell

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Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Mitochondria – a cell’s power generator

• They are rod shaped and surrounded by a double membrane
with an inner membrane extensively folded. They are sites of
respiration (see Chapter 5) and are responsible for the release
of energy which is subsequently stored in adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) molecules.
• Cells which have a high metabolic rate need a constant supply
of energy. These cells, such as muscle and liver cells, contain a
large number of mitochondria.

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 Cell Structure and Function

Mitochondria
Outer Membrane

• Power center of
cell
• Provides the
energy the cell
needs to move,
divide, etc.

“Electric company of the Inner Membrane

cell”

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Cell Powerhouse

Mitochondrion
( mitochondria )
Rod shape

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Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Cell wall – a plant cell’s extra armour

• It is found only in plant cells; it is an extra layer of material in
addition to the cell membrane.
• Unlike the cell membrane, the cell wall is fully permeable. It is a
rigid structure made up of cellulose and provides strength and
shape to the cell.
• It prevents the plant cell from bursting when too much water
enters the vacuole

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Cell Wall Cell wall

• Nonliving layer
• Found in plants,
fungi, & bacteria
• Made of cellulose in
plants
• Made of
peptidoglycan in
bacteria
• Made of chitin in
Fungi
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 Cell Structure and Function

Cell Wall

• Found only in
plant cells

• Protects and
supports the cell

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Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Chloroplasts – a plant cell’s solar generator

• They are similar to mitochondria but are found only in plant
cells which photosynthesise. They are flat discs, surrounded by
a double membrane called the chloroplast envelope.
• They are usually green in colour because of a pigment called
chlorophyll. During photosynthesis, chloroplasts trap light
energy from the Sun and energy is stored in ATP (see Chapter
15).

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 Cell Structure and Function

Chloroplasts
• Found only in plant
cells
• Contains
chlorophyll (makes
plants green)
• Where
photosynthesis
takes place

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 Cell Structure and Function

Endoplasmic Reticulum
Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Transportation
system of cell
• Rough ER-
ribosome's
attached
• Smooth ER- no
Ribosomes
ribosome's

“Roadways of the cell”

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 Cell Structure and Function

Ribosomes
•Site where
proteins are
made
•Cell parts are
made of
proteins “Factories of the cell”

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 Cell Structure and Function

Golgi Complex
• Packaging house of
cell
• Packages,
processes, and
ships out the
stuff the cell
makes

“UPS of the cell”

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 Cell Structure and Function

Lysosomes
• Digests food
particles and cell
parts
▫ “Garbage men”
• Protects cell by
digesting foreign
invaders
▫ “Police men

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Cilia & Flagella

• Made of protein tubes
called microtubules
• Function in moving cells, in
moving fluids, or in small
particles across the cell
surface

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Cilia & Flagella

• Cilia are shorter
and more
numerous on
cells
• Flagella are
longer and fewer
(usually 1-3) on
cells

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 Cell Structure and Function

Cell Movement with Cilia &

Flagella

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Cilia Moving Away Dust Particles from the

Lungs in the Respiratory System

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Cell Specialisation in Multicellular

Organisms

You should be able to:

■ explain the importance of cell specialisation; and
■ differentiate between cell, tissue, organ and organ
system.

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Cell Specialisation

• Multicellular organisms are composed

of several different types of cells; each
cell is differently adapted to perform a
specific function.
• As the cells are produced and
developed, they change their
structure in some ways to specialise in
a specific function.
• This process of development is known
as cell differentiation.
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Specialized Animal Cells

Muscle cells Red blood cells

Cheek cells

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Specialized Plant cells

Guard Cells

Pollen Xylem cells

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Xylem Vessels
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Examples of specialised cells in plants and animals:

Xylem vessels
• are pipe-like columns;
• provide support;
• transport water and mineral salts from roots to other
parts.

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Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Examples of specialised cells in plants and animals:

Root hair cell

• has a long narrow extension of the cell;
• has a large surface area to volume ratio;
• increases the rate of
diffusion of water
and mineral salts.

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Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Examples of specialised cells in plants and animals:

Red blood cells

• supply oxygen to other body cells;
• contain red pigment called haemoglobin – combine
easily with oxygen;
• do not have nucleus – can pack more haemoglobin;
• are biconcave shaped – increase surface area;
• have an elastic cell membrane – allows them to be
squeezed through narrow cap

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Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Cell Organisation

• Some organisms, such as bacteria, are unicellular,

consisting of a single cell. Other organisms, such as
humans, are multicellular, or have many cells − an
estimated 100,000,000,000,000 cells!
• Multicellular organisms are composed of several
different types of cells organised into organ systems
which work with one another to ensure that the whole
organism functions effectively.

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Cell Organisation

The different levels of organisation are as follows:

1. Similar cells work together as tissues to carry out a
particular function.

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2. Different tissues work together as an organ to carry

out a particular function.

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3. Different organs work together as an organ system to

carry out a particular function.

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4. An organism consists
of several organ
systems with each
carrying out its own
function.

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Other systems include the:

• respiratory system,
• circulatory system,
• nervous system,
• digestive system,
• excretory system,
• musculo skeletal system, and
• reproductive system.

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Cell Organisation
• Plants are also multicellular organisms.
• Epidermal cells make up the epidermal tissue. Xylem
cells and phloem cells make up the vascular tissue.
Many other cells of the cortex and pith make up the
supporting tissue of the stems.
• These different plant tissues group together to form
the plant organs – the roots, leaves and flowers.
• The different organs make up the organ systems of the
plant – the roots or shoots system.

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Fig 3.20: Plant organs

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CELLS – life TISSUES – Similar cells

🡪
starts here working together 60
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ORGAN
ORGANS 🡪 🡪 ORGANISM
SYSTEMS
Different tissues
Different organs
working together
working together
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Key Concepts
Cell structure and organelles
• All plant and animal cells have a cell membrane made up of
proteins and phospholipids, cytoplasm, a nucleus which
contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and rod-shaped
structures involved in respiration called mitochondria.
• Plant cells are also surrounded by a cell wall which is made up
of cellulose. The cell wall is fully permeable unlike the cell
membrane which is partially permeable. The cell membrane
controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

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Key Concepts
Cell structure and organelles
• Plant cells are occupied by a large central vacuole which
contains a solution of salts and sugars called cell sap. This
vacuole is surrounded by a membrane known as the
tonoplast.
• Animal cells may also contain vacuoles; however they are
smaller and scattered throughout the cytoplasm.
• Chloroplasts are found in plant cells which photosynthesise.
They contain a pigment called chlorophyll.

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Key Concepts
Cell specialisation and organisation
• Cells become specialised in structure to perform a specific
function in a process called cell differentiation.
• Similar cells work together as a tissue to carry out a particular
function.
• Different tissues work together as an organ to carry out a
particular function.
• Different organs work together as an organ system to carry
out a particular function.
• A multicellular organism is made up of many organ systems
working together.

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