Organelles are specialized structures within cells that perform specific functions. The main organelles described are the plasma membrane, nucleus, ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosome. Each organelle has a distinct form and function that helps the cell carry out vital processes like metabolism, transport of materials, and breakdown of waste.

2.  Examples of organelles:
What are Plasma membrane
organelles? Nucleus
Organelles are Ribosomes
specialized structures Rough endoplasmic reticulum
within a cell that
perform specific Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
functions.
Golgi apparatus
Lysosome

3. Plasma membrane

4. Plasma Membrane
o Form:
 Semi-permeable
membrane
 Encases the outside of
the cell
o Function:
 Regulation of
substances moving in
and out of the cell
o Analogy:
 Chain-link fence

5. Nucleus

6. Nucleus
o Form:
 Enclosed by a nuclear
envelope containing pores
o Function:
 “the control center”
 holds DNA and RNA
 Relays messages about
cell processes
o Analogy:
 City Hall

7. Ribosomes

8. Ribosomes
o Form:
 Made of protein
 Composed of two
subunits
 Located in the cytoplasm
and Endoplasmic Reticulum
o Function:
 Reads tRNA, then
assembles proteins
o Analogy:
 A factory

9. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

10. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
o Form:
 Network of membranes
found throughout the cell
 Contains ribosomes
o Function:
 Works with ribosomes,
RNA, mRNA, and tRNA
 Packages and ships
proteins
o Analogy:
 A moving company

11. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

12. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
o Form:
 Network of membranes
found throughout the cell
 Does NOT contain
ribosomes
o Function:
 Creates and stores lipids
 Stores ions
o Analogy:
 Storage tank

13. Golgi apparatus

14. Golgi apparatus
o Form:
 Layers of membranes
(shaped like stacks of pancakes)
 Can contain ribosomes
o Function:
 Changes simple molecules
into complex molecules
 Packages molecules into
secretory vesicles for exocytosis
 Builds lysosomes
o Analogy:
 A trucking company

15. Lysosome

16. Lysosome
o Form:
 Created by the Golgi
apparatus
 Vesicle that contains enzymes
 Location: floating in the
cytoplasm
o Function:
 Breaks down complex
molecules to reuse as food
o Analogy:
 Recycling center

17. Picture Sources
 LadyofHats. Endomembrane_system_diagram. February 21, 2011
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Endomembrane_system_diagram_en.svg.
 SonnyandSandy. IMG_6593. February 21, 2011
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnyandsandy/801112331/lightbox/.
 Bright Adventures. City Hall in Small Town USA. February 21, 2011
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34223126@N07/5147926956/.
 Alisha Vargas. Trona Factory. February 21, 2011 http://www.flickr.com/photos/alishav/3111142797/.
 Emma Jane Hogbin. Boxes. February 27, 2011 http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmajane/65585561/.
 Rennett Stowe. Gasoline Storage Tanks. February 27, 2011 http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsaint/2893295018/.
 net_efekt. Sorted can. February 27, 2011 http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/3424190694/.
 U.S. Army Environmental Command. Recycling. February 27, 2011
http://www.flickr.com/photos/armyenvironmental/4453374437/.