Cell Parts
•Cells – the basic unit
of life
•Organelles - small
structures inside a
cell with specific
functions.
Analogy – City of Rocklin
A) Cell Membrane/Plasma
Membrane
Analogy – Rocklin city limits
1.Function: Regulates materials entering and
exiting the cell.
2.Structure: Two layers of phospholipids, proteins
Cell
membrane
B) Cytoplasm
1.Function: All cell contents that lie between the cell
membrane and the nucleus. (organelles + cytosol)
a. Cytosol = liquid portion/non-organelles.
2.Structure: made up of fluid and organelles except for
nucleus
Analogy – All air, water, life that are in Rocklin, except
City Hall
Cytoplasm
C) Nucleus
1.Function: “Control Center.” Regulates DNA
& RNA actions.
2.Structure: membrane bound, contains DNA
Analogy – City Hall
Nucleus
D) Nuclear Envelope
Analogy – Walls & Doors of City Hall
1.Function: Regulates what enters or exits the
nucleus.
2.Structure: Double Layer of Lipids
Nuclear
Envelope
E) Nucleolus
Analogy – The Mayor
1.Function: Produces RNA, which are used to
make all proteins.
2.Structure: Inside Nucleus, separate from
DNA
Nucleolus
F) DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid
Analogy – The Laws or City Code
1.Function: information on how to make
proteins.
a.Chromatin – unorganized DNA (normal state)
b.Chromosomes – organized DNA (present before
cell division
2.Structure: Made up of nucleotides, locked in
the nucleus
DNA (chromatin)
G) Endoplasmic Reticulum
Analogy – Roads & Sidewalks
1.Function: Transportation route for proteins.
a.Rough ER: has ribosomes
b.Smooth ER: no ribosomes
2.Structure: tubes and channels
Rough ER
Smooth ER
H) Ribosomes
Analogy – Restaurants, Factories, Builders.
1.Function: Makes proteins.
2.Structure: small circular organelles
Ribosomes
Free
Ribosomes
I) Vacuoles & Vesicles
Analogy – Grocery stores, water tanks.
1.Function: Storage for water, nutrients or
waste.
2.Structure: small membrane-bound organelle.
Vesicles
J) Lysosomes
Analogy – Recycling center
1.Function: packets of enzymes that break
down materials in a cell.
2.Structure: Small membrane-bound
organelles
Lysosomes
K) Mitochondria
Analogy – PG&E
1.Function: Produce energy for the cell – site
of cellular respiration. “The Powerhouse”
2.Structure: Double membrane-bound, kidney
shaped.
Mitochondria
L) Golgi Apparatus
Analogy – Post Office
1.Function: Packages, labels and ships
proteins out of the cell.
2.Structure: Pancake-shaped layered
organelle
Golgi
Apparatus
M) Cytoskeleton
Analogy – Wood, cement, steel beams
1.Function: Provide support and structure for
the cell.
a. Microfilaments
b. Microtubules
2.Structure: Tubules
Microfilaments
Microtubules
N) Centrioles (Animals Only)
Analogy – Rocklin High School vs. Whitney High School
1.Function: microtubules that help divide the
cell during cell division.
•Structure: Tubules
Centrioles
O) Cilia & Flagella
Analogy – Cars or bicycles.
1.Function: provides movement for the cell or
objects moving by the cell.
2.Structure:
a. Flagella – 1 long fiber
b. Cilia – many short fibers
Flagella
Flagella
Cilia
P) Chloroplasts (Plants only)
Analogy – Solar Panels
1.Function: site of photosynthesis (converting
sun and CO2 into sugar).
2.Structure: Membrane bound organelles that
contain chlorophyll
Chloroplasts
Q) Cell Wall (Plant cells only)
Analogy – ground, rock wall
1.Function: Provides support for the cell and
the plant.
2.Structure: Made of cellulose
Cell Wall
Cell Parts Analogy
•Create an analogy (besides the city
analogy) for the cell and its parts
•Possible ideas:
–Stadium
–School
–Country
–Restaurant
–House
–Mall
–Waterpark
Stadium Example:
•Cell membrane: wall of stadium, gates
•Cytoplasm: everything inside the stadium.
•Nucleus: the control room for the stadium.
•Etc…