The animal cell is a class of eukaryotic cell that makes up the tissues of animals. Animals, like plants and fungi, are multicellular organisms, which means that they are made up of cells that work in a coordinated way. However, it can be the case of animals that are composed of a single cell, such as "protozoa", which are unicellular microorganisms.
The size and shape of animal cells are very different, but they have one element in common: they are microscopic, as well as having a nucleus and a cytoplasm, contained in a membrane.
The inner part of an animal cell can have different structures. On the one hand is the cell membrane, which surrounds the animal cell and encloses it. There is also the cytoplasm, where various organelles are distinguished such as centrioles, ribosomes, lysosomes, mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus.
Another important detail is that the animal cell, unlike the plant cell, does not have a cell wall or chloroplasts. As it does not have a cell wall, the animal cell can adopt a great variety of forms, even a phagocytic cell can surround and destroy other structures.
Animal cell and its organelles, organelles are cellular components or subdivisions, located in the cytoplasm and fulfill a certain function.
Animal Cell and its Parts
Table of Contents
The parts of the typical animal cell are as follows:
- Nucleus: represents the cellular brain. It is one that establishes the guidelines for the proper functioning of many biological processes. In the nucleus animal cell it is very important because it contains all the genetic information involved in inheritance. It is spherical in shape and measures approximately 5.2 millimeters in diameter. Inside the DNA molecules and proteins are organized in chromosomes and can be formed in pairs.
- Cellular or plasma membrane: this consists of a thin structure that encloses the animal cell and moves it away from its environment. It is a kind of semi-permeable membrane, basically composed of substances such as lipids and fats. Its function is to select that the molecules that enter and leave it work.
- Cytoplasm: it is a viscous fluid, where the different structures that make up the animal cell are found. Within this colorless substance many molecules are located. It makes up the entire matrix and organelles, not including the nucleus. One of its functions is to protect cell organelles and help them in their movements.
The functions carried out by animal cells are:
- Nutrition, since it allows obtaining the substances and elements that you need from each ingested food in order to transform them into energy.
- Reproduction, where new cells are fertilized from a stem cell.
- Cytoskeleton: it is a structure made up of proteins in the form of a three-dimensional framework, its function is to provide internal support to the marrow, it intervenes in the traffic, transport and cell division phenomena, it also intervenes in the organization of internal cellular structures. The cytoskeleton facilitates cell movement and maintains the shape of the cell.
- The nucleoplasm: it is the layer that surrounds the nucleus, its material is double-layered. This membrane is perforated by pores that facilitate and allow the exchange of cellular matter between the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm.
- Centrioles: are in charge of organizing the assembly in cell division. They are organelles with their cylinder-shaped structure, made up of 9 triplets of microtubules that are part of the cytoskeleton. When the centrioles are located inside the cell and in pairs perpendicular to each other, they are called diplosomes.
Among other functions of the centrioles, is the transport of organelles, transports the cellular particles of the cell, keeps the cell in shape and constitutes the cytoskeletal axis in eukaryotic cilia and flagella.
- Lysosomes: are sacs formed by hydrolytic enzymes whose main function is to digest cellular waste. Lysosomes function as the digestive system of cells.
Functions of the Animal Cell
The animal cell fulfills two important functions, that of nutrition and reproduction. With regard to nutrition, the cell takes care of all the nutrients that are found outside and is responsible for converting them into substances so that they form part of the cell.
In this way it generates the energy necessary to be used by the living being, and produces waste that the cell eliminates.
The animal and plant cells belong to the group of eukaryotic cells, both have a defined nucleus, mitochondria, cell membrane, cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and cytoskeleton elements are shared.
Through maps, plans and models, they are examples of models that experts use for research and analysis of complex phenomena, very small or too large. The model animal cell is a simpler representation model of its parts and structure.
Animal Eukaryotic Cell
It is a cell that contains two organelles, some membranous and others not, its cytoplasm allows it to have a heterotrophic nutrition.
An example is the human cell, with a nucleus inside and a cytoplasm made up of organelles.
Parts of the Animal Eukaryote Cell
- The nucleus: it is the structure that characterizes this cell, it is formed by a nuclear membrane responsible for wrapping the DNA. This is made up of a structure called chromatin, when the cell divides it divides and forms chromosomes.
- Mitochondria: are responsible for obtaining the necessary energy for the cell, through cellular respiration. Mitochondria are large organelles, surrounded by a double membrane. They use oxygen to oxidize the organic matter that enters it and releases it as energy and carbon dioxide (CO2).
- The Golgi apparatus: it is made up of vesicles and sacs that come from the endoplasmic reticulum. The substances produced here are modified and generate vesicles that become part of the cell organelles and can be expelled to the outside.
- Endoplasmic reticulum: it is made up of tubes, vesicles and sacs, there are two types:
- The rough endoplasmic reticulum, named for its appearance and having ribosomes attached to its surface. Its function is to reduce, transport and store proteins.
- The smooth endoplasmic reticulum: is responsible for the production of lipids.
- Lysosomes: they are organelles that were formed from the Golgi apparatus, inside they contain digestive enzymes that are responsible for cellular digestion.
- Centrioles: they are cylinder-shaped organelles, exclusive of animal cells, they intervene directly with cell division, forming the cytoskeleton and the achromatic spindle.
Differences between the Animal Cell and the Plant Cell
- The most striking difference between animal and plant cells is that plant cells have a wall that provides greater rigidity.
- The plant cell has plastids or plastids, the animal cell does not have them.
- The animal cell has the organelles called lysosomes, the plant does not.
- The animal cell has a very small number of vacuoles, while the plant has a large number of them.
- In the animal cell the mitochondria is responsible for generating energy, whereas in the plant cell the chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis.
- The nutrition of plant cells is autotrophic, while in animals it is heterotrophic.
- Animal cells have different shapes, while plant cells have only one shape, prismatic.
- Eukaryotic cells have a defined nucleus in their nuclear envelope and contain DNA, these characteristics are found in the animal or plant cell.
Plant Cell with its Parts and Functions
Plant cells are eukaryotic cells that are present in plants. They are eukaryotic because their genetic information or deoxyribonucleic acid, is wrapped by a membrane forming the nucleus.
Among the characteristics of plant cells is to have a rectangular or square shape, it has a set of very particular structures such as the rigidity of its cell wall, plastids and large vacuoles.
Parts and Functions of the Plant Cell
- Golgi apparatus: they are a group of cavities one above the other and their function is to store the substances that will be discarded by the cells and to produce, transport and store proteins, substances necessary for the cell.
- Cytoplasmic membrane: it is a very thin layer that surrounds the cell, maintains the cytoplasm and organelles in the cell.
- Cell wall: this structure is present only in the plant cell, it is the outermost layer of the cell that protects and surrounds the cytoplasmic membrane.
- The Nucleus: in this structure is the hereditary information of the cell in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. Information on the characteristics of the species is transported through this acid.
- Nucleolus: it is a structure found inside the nucleus. It is involved in the synthesis of proteins and helps to synthesize ribonucleic acid.
