Cell Organelles
What you need to know
Cell Theory
1. All living things are made of cells.
2. Cells are the basic unit of structure and
function in living things.
3. All cells come only from other living
cells.
An organelle is a membranebound structure that carries out
specific activities for the cell. It
means “little organ.”
You will need to know the following organelles and their function:
 Cell Membrane
 Nucleus
 Cytoplasm
 Mitochondria
 Golgi apparatus
 Ribosomes
 Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
 Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
 Cell Wall
 Chloroplast
 Vacuole
 Lysosome
Cell Wall (Plant Cell Only)
 Outer layer of the
plant cell
 Protects and
supports the cell
School Equivalent of Cell Wall
Outer walls of
school
Cell Membrane
 Separates the cell from the rest of its environment.
 Controls the passage of materials in and out of the
cell.
 GATE KEEPER
School Equivalent of
Cell Membrane
Doors
Mrs. Bradley
(buzzes people in)
Nucleus
 The control center of
the cell
 Contains DNA
(chromosomes) and
the nucleolus.
School Equivalent of Nucleus
The office
Mr. Peiffer &
Mrs. Oleksa
Ribosomes
 Make proteins
 Think RIBS!!
School Equivalent of Ribosomes
Cafeteria staff
that makes your
lunches
Cytoplasm
 Jelly-like
substance
that fills in the
space
between the
organelles.
School Equivalent of Cytoplasm
Air
Mitochondria
 The “powerhouse”
of the cell
 Produces energy to
support cell
activities
 MIGHTY
MITOCHONDRIA!
School Equivalent of Mitochondria
Generator
Power outlets
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
 Series of tubes or
cavities that transports
materials throughout
the cell.
 Helps ribosomes make
protein
 Smooth = no ribosomes
 Rough = ribosomes
attached
School Equivalent of ER
Cafeteria staff
that help make
lunches
Hallways
Golgi Apparatus
 Package proteins to
be sent out of the
cell
School Equivalent of Golgi
Apparatus
Cafeteria staff
that packages
lunches for field
trips
District courier
Mail room
Vacuole
 “Storage tanks” of
the cell
 Filled with food,
water, and or waste
 Larger in a plant cell
School Equivalent of Vacuole
Storage rooms
Closets
Refrigerators
Chloroplast (Plant Cell Only)
 Contains chlorophyll.
 Traps energy from
the sun to produce
glucose
 Photosynthesis takes
place here.
School Equivalent of Chloroplast
Cafeteria staff
that make your
lunches
Solar panels
Lysosome (animal cell only)
 Digest proteins and
break down
materials in the cell
School Equivalent of Lysosomes
Custodians –
break down
empty boxes and
dispose of them.