This document uses town analogies to help explain the functions of some key animal cell organelles. The cell membrane is compared to a town gate that allows things to enter and exit. The nucleus is likened to a town hall that controls and plans the town's activities. The cytoplasm represents the town limits that contains all town residents. The endoplasmic reticulum transports materials within the cell similar to roads, while ribosomes help make proteins like a factory. The Golgi complex packages and ships materials like a postal system. Mitochondria provide energy to the cell as power lines do for a town. Vacuoles store materials, analogous to storage units in a town.

1. CELL ORGANELLES Town Analogies to help remember the function of some animal organelles

2. Cell membrane Surrounds the cell & gives protection to the cell Allows things to enter and exit the cell Think of a town gate. If the town was all inside a fence and gate. The town gate allows people to enter and exit the town.

3. NUCLEUS Contains the DNA Controls the activities of the cell Think of a town hall. The town hall plans and carries out activities for the town.

4. CYTOPLASM The fluid like substance inside the cell that holds the organelles Think of the town limits. Everybody that is consider a resident of a town is inside the town limits.

5. Endoplasmic Reticulum Found right outside the nucleus Can have ribosomes attached or not (smooth) Its main job is to help transport things within the cell Think of the roads in a town. The roads help with transportation within the cell .

6. RIBOSOMES Can be found on the ER or free in the cytoplasm Help with protein synthesis Think of a factory. Products are made in factories.

7. Golgi Complex Sac like organelle Used for packing and transporting material within the cell Think of the postal system. It helps pack and ship products from one place to another inside the town

8. Mitochondria The powerhouse of the cell It provides the energy for the cell Think of the power lines that run through a town. They provide energy to the people of the town

9. Vacuoles Storage containers within the cells Think of a storage unit. Some people within a town will keep extra stuff in a storage unit.