Organelles in Animal Cells

Organelles in Animal Cells

Vacuole

• A membrane-bound organelle that stores water, salts, and other substances
• Helps maintain cell turgor pressure and osmoregulation
• Can also store waste products and recycling cellular debris
• Typically larger in plant cells, but smaller in animal cells

Centrioles

• Small, cylindrical organelles near the nucleus
• Composed of microtubules and play a key role in cell division
• Help form the spindle fibers during mitosis
• Also involved in the formation of cilia and flagella

Microtubules

• Part of the cytoskeleton, providing structural support and shape to the cell
• Composed of tubulin proteins and are dynamic, constantly assembling and disassembling
• Involved in cell division, intracellular transport, and maintenance of cell shape
• Can also be involved in the movement of organelles and chromosomes

Golgi Apparatus

• A complex of flattened sacs and tubules that process and modify proteins and lipids
• Receives proteins and lipids from the rough ER and modifies them for transport
• Packages proteins and lipids into vesicles for secretion or transport to other parts of the cell
• Plays a key role in cell signaling and protein synthesis

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

• A network of membranous tubules and cisternae that is involved in protein synthesis and transport
• Two types: rough ER (with ribosomes) and smooth ER (without ribosomes)
• Rough ER is involved in protein synthesis and transport, while smooth ER is involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification
• Plays a key role in the synthesis and transport of proteins and lipids in the cell

Organelles in Animal Cells

Vacuole

• Stores water, salts, and other substances, maintaining cell turgor pressure and osmoregulation
• Can store waste products and recycle cellular debris
• Typically larger in plant cells, but smaller in animal cells

Centrioles

• Composed of microtubules, playing a key role in cell division and forming spindle fibers during mitosis
• Involved in forming cilia and flagella

Microtubules

• Provide structural support and shape to the cell as part of the cytoskeleton
• Composed of tubulin proteins, assembling and disassembling dynamically
• Involved in cell division, intracellular transport, and maintaining cell shape
• Can move organelles and chromosomes

Golgi Apparatus

• Processes and modifies proteins and lipids in a complex of flattened sacs and tubules
• Receives proteins and lipids from the rough ER, modifying them for transport
• Packages proteins and lipids into vesicles for secretion or transport to other cell parts
• Plays a key role in cell signaling and protein synthesis

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

• A network of membranous tubules and cisternae involved in protein synthesis and transport
• Consists of rough ER (with ribosomes) and smooth ER (without ribosomes)
• Rough ER synthesizes and transports proteins, while smooth ER synthesizes lipids and detoxifies
• Plays a key role in synthesizing and transporting proteins and lipids in the cell

Learn about the structures and functions of organelles in animal cells, including vacuoles and centrioles.