CELL ORGANELLES

To understand the functioning of the cell, it is necessary to know briefly about the structure of
cell organelles.

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

Endoplasmic reticulum is a complicated and interconnected system of membrane bound

channels and tubules.
It is spread throughout the cytoplasm and is continuous with the plasma membrane and nuclear
membrane.
There are two types of Endoplasmic Reticulum.
a) Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum. (RER)
b) Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum. (SER)
Rough endoplasmic reticulum (Granular endoplasmic reticulum)
They are found in cells which synthesize proteins. This type of endoplasmic reticulum possesses
rough walls because the ribosomes remain attached with membrane of endoplasmic reticulum.
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (Agranular endoplasmic reticulum)
They are found in cells which synthesize lipid. The walls are smooth and ribosomes are not
attached to its membrane.

Functions of Endoplasmic Reticulum

 Endoplasmic Reticulum (E.R) provides large surface area for the metabolic activities of thecell.
 Rough endoplasmic reticulum plays an important role in protein synthesis.
 Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is involved in the synthesis of steroid, hormones and lipids.
 .
Functions of Golgi Complex
 Golgi apparatus is involved in the formation of lysosomes.
 It is also responsible for the synthesis of cell wall and cell membrane.
GOLGI COMPLEX OR GOLGI APPARATUS
The Golgi apparatus was first described by Camillo Golgi. Golgi complex consist of saucer- like compartments
called cisternae, network of interconnecting tubules, vesicles and vacuoles at the peripheral regions.
 LYSOSOMES

Lysosomes are small membrane bound vesicles which contain various types of digestive enzymes. These serve as
intracellular digestive system, hence they are called digestive bags .
They are produced by the joint activity of Endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. If the membrane of
Lysosome happens to get ruptured, the enzymes of Lysosome would digest the entire cellular structure causing
death of the cell. So Lysosomes are called suicide bags’

Functions of Lysosomes
 Lysosomes are involved in the intracellular digestion of food particles ingested by the cell
through endocytosis.

 The lysosomes of WBCs (White blood cells) destroy pathogens and other foreign particlesand
thus take part in natural defense of the body.

RIBOSOMES

Ribosomes are small granular structures made up of ribo nucleic acids (RNA) and proteins. They
occur free in the cytoplasm as well as attached to the outer surface of the rough endoplasmic
reticulum.
Each ribosome consists of two subunits – a small subunit and a large subunit.
At the time of protein synthesis many ribosomes get attached to messenger RNA and form a
structure called polyribosome or polysome.
 Functions of Ribosomes
Ribosomes play an important role in protein synthesis. So they are called, ‘protein factories’
of the cell.

VACUOLES

Vacuoles are fluid– filled sacs bound by a single membrane and are present in plant cells as well
as in certain protozoans as food vacuoles and contractile vacuoles. In plant cells, major portion
of the cell is occupied by vacuoles and are bound by the definite membrane called tonoplast.
Vacuoles of plants are filled with cell sap containing minerals, sugars, amino acids and dissolved
waste products.

Functions of Vacuoles
 Vacuoles store and concentrate mineral salts as well as nutrients.
 They maintain proper osmotic pressure in the cell for its turgidity and absorption of water.

MITOCHONDRIA

Mitochondria are globular or cylindrical organelles. Each mitochondrion is bound by two

membranes – an outer continuous membrane and an inner membrane thrown into folds called
cristae. These cristae divide the inner chamber incompletely. The inner chamber is filled with
homogenous dense material called the matrix. The cristae have pin headed bodies called F1
particles or Oxysomes which play an important role in respiration.
The matrix of mitochondria contains enzymes necessary for the oxidation of food during
respiration and release of energy in the form of ATP molecules. Therefore mitochondria are
called power houses of the cell. The mitochondria contain proteins, lipids and a small amount
of DNA.

Functions of Mitochondria
 Mitochondria synthesize energy rich compounds such as ATP.
Mitochondria provide important intermediates for the synthesis of several biochemicals like chlorophyll,
cytochromes, steroids, aminoacids etc
PLASTIDS

Plastids are disc or oval shaped organelles which occur in plant cells only. Plastids are of three
types. They are Leucoplasts, Chromoplasts and Chloroplasts.
i) Leucoplasts: These are colourless plastids which store food in the form of starch, lipids and
proteins
ii) Chromoplasts: These are yellow or reddish in colour due to the presence of pigments other
than chlorophyll. Chromoplasts provide colour to many flowers and fruits.
iii) Chloroplasts: These are green coloured plastids which possess the photosynthetic pigment
chlorophyll.

Each chloroplast consists of a double membraned envelope and a matrix. The inner membrane
is arranged along the length of the plastids as lamellae. At certain regions, the lamellae are
thickened and appear like pile of coins. These are called the grana. Each granum consists of
disc shaped membranous sacs called thylakoids. Inside these grana, the chlorophyll is located.
The non-thylakoid portion of the matrix is called stroma. It contains a number of enzymes
involved in photosynthesis.

Functions of Plastids: Leucoplasts are responsible for storing food; such as carbohydrates,
protein and lipid. Chromoplasts impart various colours to the plant parts. A leaf of a plant is
green in colour because of chloroplast. Chloroplast is the site of photosynthesis.

CENTROSOME
Centrosome is present in animal cells and in certain lower plants. It is absent in prokaryotic cells
and in higher plant cells. It is located near one pole of the nucleus. It contains a pair of small,
hollow granules called centrioles.

Functions of Centrioles
Centrioles play an important role in the formation of spindle fibres during cell division.
THE FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE
1. Define Cell
2. What will happen to a cell if its nucleus is removed?
3. Who proposed the Cell theory ?
4. What is Nucleoid ?
5. Fill in the blanks:-
(a) New cells are formed from .
(b) Movement of water molecules from their higher concentration to their lower
concentration through a semi- permeable membrane is called .
(c) The functional components of cell are , &
.
(d) Protoplasm has two parts- & .
(e) Nucleus, mitochondria & plastids have their own & .
(f) The shrinkage or contraction of the contents of the cell away from the cell wall is
known as .
(g) The process by which Amoeba can engulf a food particle is .
(h) is the manufacture of lipids required for making cell membrane.
(i) A cell that lacks nuclear membrane is called a prokaryotic cell & the nuclear region is
called .
(j) Movement of materials in & out of the cell takes place by &
.
6. Identify and name the following cell structures:
a) The undefined nuclear region of Prokaryotic cell.
b) Site of energy release inside the cell.
7. Name the kind of plastid which is important for photosynthesis in leaves of the plants.
8. Name the two components of chromosomes.
9. When does the chromatin network separate out to form chromosomes?
10. Name the cell organelle that detoxifies poisons and drugs.
11. Name the cell organelle that is associated with protein synthesis.
12. Name a cell which changes its shape.
13. Name the functional unit of DNA that carries genetic informations.
14. Expand the word DNA.
15. State the primary functions of plasma membrane.
16. Name a cell that lacks cell wall
17. Name the main constituent substance present in plant cell wall.
18. Name the cell which is responsible for intracellular transport.
19. Name the Reticulum which has ribosome’s attached to it .
20. Name a cell that does not have a nucleus, what are they called?
21. The largest cell in the human body is -
(a) Nerve cell (b) Muscle cell
(c) Liver cell (d) Kidney cell
22. The barrier between the protoplasm and the other environment in an animal cells -
(a) Cell wall (b) Nuclear membrane
(c) Tonoplast (d) Plasma membrane
23. The term ‘Cell’ was given by -
(a) Leeuwenhoek (b) Robert hooke
(c) Flemming (d) Robert Brown
24. Who proposed the cell theory? -
(a) Schleiden and Schwann (b) Watson and Crick
(c) Darwin and Wallace (d) Mendel and Morgan
25. A plant cell differs from an animal cell in the absence of -
(a) Endoplasmic Reticulum (b) Mitochondria
(c) Ribosome (d) Centrioles
26. Centrosome is found in -
(a) Cytoplasm (b) Nucleus
(c) Chromosomes (d) Nucleolus
27. The power house of a cell is -
(a) Chloroplast (b) Mitochondrion
(c) Golgi apparatus (d) Nucleolus
28. Within a cell the site of respiration (oxidation) is the -
(a) Ribosome (b) Golgi apparatus
(c) Mitochondrion (d) Endoplasmic Reticulum
29. Which is called ‘Suicidal Bag’?
(a) Centrosome (b) Lysosome
(c) Mesosome (d) Chromosome
30. Ribosomes are the center for -
(a) Respiration (b) Photosynthesis
(c) Protein synthesis (d) Fat synthesis
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