This document compares the structures and functions of a typical plant cell to an apartment and its occupants. It describes the cell wall as the apartment walls that provide structure and protection. The plasma membrane acts as the front door, controlling what enters and exits the cell. Organelles such as the nucleus, vacuole, chloroplasts, and endoplasmic reticulum are likened to appliances and residents that perform important functions for the cell, such as storing materials, producing energy, and transporting molecules throughout the cell.