Structure and function of cells

1. Structures within cells
Cells are like factories!

2. Mitochondria
• Releases energy from food
The Power Plant
• where the factory’s power comes from

3. Ribosomes
• Produces proteins used by the body for
growth and repair
Microscopic factories
• Produce products

4. Lysosomes
• Gets rid of wastes from the cell
Garbage disposal units
• where wastes and other unwanted materials
are collected and broken down

5. Endoplasmic Reticulum
• Forms pathways that allow materials to move
quickly and easily through the cell
• Also involved in packaging of proteins to be
“shipped” to the Golgi body
• Makes lipids (fats) and breaks down harmful
substances
The Assembly Line
• where products are made and
packaged/substances are broken down

6. Cytoplasm
• A watery, jelly-like mixture that contains many
smaller parts where the work of the cell takes
place
Factory Floor
• space within the factory where products are
made and business is conducted

7. Nucleus
• The control centre of the cell.
• It controls all the chemical reactions in the
cell, how the cell develops and how it
reproduces
Main Office
• the control center of the factory

8. Cell Membrane
• Regulates what enters and leaves the cell
Shipping and Receiving
• controls what comes in and what goes out in
the factory

9. Vacuole
• Stores nutrients, water and waste
Warehouse
• where materials are stored

10. Cell wall
(Plant cells only)
• The cell’s skeleton.
• It helps the cell to stay upright and keep its
shape
The walls of the factory
• Gives the factory structure

11. Chloroplast
(Plant cells only)
• Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts
Solar panels
• Use light from the sun to make energy

12. Animal Cell

13. Plant Cell

14. Membrane at work experiment
1. Make a concentrated salt solution by adding a
tablespoon of salt to 250mL of distilled water.
2. Label the two glass jars ‘salt water’ and ‘distilled
water’.
3. Measure out 200mL distilled water and pour it into
the container labelled ‘distilled water’.
4. Measure out 200mL of the salt water and add it to
the container labelled ‘salt water’.

15. 5. Carefully remove the eggs from the vinegar
and rinse them. Pat dry with paper towel.
6. Use a balance to determine the mass of each
egg and record the mass in a table like the one
shown in the Results section.
7. Place one egg in each container of water and
put on the lid or cover with plastic wrap.

16. 8. Each day, for the next 3 days, measure and
record the mass of the egg.
9. Predict what you think will happen to the
eggs. Record your prediction.
10. On day 3 measure and record the volume of
the water remaining in each of the containers.

17. Safety
• Be responsible and follow instructions
carefully
• Ask for help if you need it