Thursday, January 14, 2010

Plant cell structures and functions


Cell wallouter layer, rigid, strong, stiff, made of cellulose, support, protection, allow H2O, O2, CO2 to
                 pass into and out of the cell. 
cell membrane: inside cell wall, selectively permeable, support, protection, controls movement of
                           materials in and out of the cell, barrier between cell and its environment, maintains
                           homeostasis
nucleus: large, oval, controls cell activities
nuclear membranesurrounds nucleus, selectively permeable, controls movement of materials in and
                                  out of nucleus
cytoplasm: clear, thick, jellylike material and organelles found inside cell membrane, supports/protects
                   cell organelles
endoplasmic reticulum: network of tubes/membranes, carries materials through cells
ribosome: small bodies free or attached to endoplasmic reticulum, produces proteins
mitochondrion: bean-shaped with inner membranes, breaks down sugar molecules into energy
vacuole: fluid-filled sacs, store food, water and waste, help maintain the shape of the cell.
lysosome: small, round, with a membrane, breaks down larger food molecules into smaller molecules,
                 digests old cell part
chloroplast: green, oval, uses energy from sun to make food for plant.
amyloplast: an organelle in some plant cells that stores starch. 


It maintains a delicate equilibrium. 


Source:        1. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/cell/
2. http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/CURR/science/sciber00/7th/cells/sciber/orgtable.htm