ANIMAL CELL Mitochondrion

Cell Membrane
They are spherical or rod-shaped organelles with a
A thin semipermeable membrane layer of lipids double membrane. They are the powerhouse of a
and proteins surrounding the cell. Its primary role cell as they play an important role in releasing
is to protect the cell from its surroundings. Also, it energy.
controls the entry and exit of nutrients and other
microscopic entities into the cell. For this reason, Ribosome
cell membranes are known as semi-permeable or
They are small organelles made up of RNA-rich
selectively permeable membranes.
cytoplasmic granules, and they are the sites of
protein synthesis.
Nucleus

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

It is an organelle that contains several other
sub-organelles such as nucleolus, nucleosomes This cellular organelle is composed of a thin,
and chromatins. It also contains DNA and other winding network of membranous sacs originating
genetic materials. from the nucleus.

Nuclear Membrane Vacuole

It is a double-membrane structure that surrounds A membrane-bound organelle present inside a

the nucleus. It is also referred to as the nuclear cell involved in maintaining shape and storing
envelope. water, food, wastes, etc.

Centrosome Nucleopore

It is a small organelle found near the nucleus, They are tiny holes present in the nuclear
which has a thick centre with radiating tubules. membrane which are involved in the movement
The centrosomes are where microtubules are of nucleic acids and proteins across the nuclear
produced. membrane.

Lysosome Animal Cell Types

They are round organelles surrounded by a There are numerous types of animal cells, each
membrane and comprising digestive enzymes designed to serve specific functions. The most
which help in digestion, excretion and in the cell common types of animal cells are:
renewal process.
Skin Cells
Cytoplasm
Melanocytes, keratinocytes, Merkel cells and
A jelly-like material which contains all the cell
Langerhans cells
organelles, enclosed within the cell membrane.
The substance found within the cell nucleus, Muscle Cells
contained by the nuclear membrane is called the
nucleoplasm. Myocyte, Myosatellite cells, Tendon cells, Cardiac
muscle cells
Golgi Apparatus
Blood Cells
A flat, smooth layered, sac-like organelle which is
located near the nucleus and involved in Leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelet
manufacturing, storing, packing and transporting
the particles throughout the cell. Nerve Cells

Schwann cell, glial cells etc

Fat Cells Plastids

Adipocytes They are membrane-bound organelles that have

their own DNA. They are necessary to store starch
PLANT CELL and to carry out the process of photosynthesis. It
is also used in the synthesis of many molecules,
Cell Wall which form the building blocks of the cell. Some
of the vital types of plastids and their functions are
It is a rigid layer which is composed of
stated below:
polysaccharides cellulose, pectin and
hemicellulose. It is located outside the cell
Leucoplasts
membrane. It also comprises glycoproteins and
polymers such as lignin, cutin, or suberin. The They are found in the non-photosynthetic tissue
primary function of the cell wall is to protect and of plants. They are used for the storage of protein,
provide structural support to the cell. The plant lipid and starch.
cell wall is also involved in protecting the cell
against mechanical stress and providing form and Chloroplasts
structure to the cell. It also filters the molecules
It is an elongated organelle enclosed by
passing in and out of it. The formation of the cell
phospholipid membrane. The chloroplast is
wall is guided by microtubules. It consists of three
shaped like a disc and the stroma is the fluid
layers, namely, primary, secondary and the middle within the chloroplast that comprises a circular
lamella. The primary cell wall is formed by
DNA. Each chloroplast contains a green coloured
cellulose laid down by enzymes.
pigment called chlorophyll required for the
process of photosynthesis. The chlorophyll
Cell membrane absorbs light energy from the sun and uses it to
It is the semi-permeable membrane that is transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose.
present within the cell wall. It is composed of a
thin layer of protein and fat. The cell membrane
plays an important role in regulating the entry
and exit of specific substances within the cell. For
instance, cell membrane keeps toxins from
entering inside, while nutrients and essential
minerals are transported across.

Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound structure that

is present only in eukaryotic cells. The vital
function of a nucleus is to store DNA or hereditary
information required for cell division, metabolism
and growth.
Chromoplasts
1. Nucleolus: It manufactures cells’ They are heterogeneous, coloured plastid which is
protein-producing structures and responsible for pigment synthesis and for storage
ribosomes. in photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms.
2. Nucleopore: Nuclear membrane is Chromoplasts have red, orange and yellow
perforated with holes called nucleopore coloured pigments which provide color to all ripe
that allow proteins and nucleic acids to fruits and flowers.
pass through.
Central Vacuole Following are some of the different types of plant
cells:
It occupies around 30% of the cell’s volume in a
mature plant cell. Tonoplast is a membrane that
Collenchyma Cells
surrounds the central vacuole. The vital function
of the central vacuole apart from storage is to They are hard or rigid cells, which play a primary
sustain turgor pressure against the cell wall. The role in providing support to the plants when there
central vacuole consists of cell sap. It is a mixture is restraining growth in a plant due to lack of
of salts, enzymes and other substances. hardening agent in primary walls.

Golgi Apparatus Sclerenchyma Cells

They are found in all eukaryotic cells, which are These cells are more rigid compared to
involved in distributing synthesised collenchyma cells and this is because of the
macromolecules to various parts of the cell. presence of a hardening agent. These cells are
usually found in all plant roots and mainly
Ribosomes involved in providing support to the plants.

They are the smallest membrane-bound

Parenchyma Cells
organelles which comprise RNA and protein. They
are the sites for protein synthesis, hence, also Parenchyma cells play a significant role in all
referred to as the protein factories of the cell. plants. They are the living cells of plants, which are
involved in the production of leaves. They are also
Mitochondria involved in the exchange of gases, production of
food, storage of organic products and cell
They are the double-membraned organelles
metabolism. These cells are typically more flexible
found in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells. They
than others because they are thinner.
provide energy by breaking down carbohydrate
and sugar molecules, hence they are also referred
Xylem Cells
to as the “Powerhouse of the cell.”
Xylem cells are the transport cells in vascular
Lysosome plants. They help in the transport of water and
minerals from the roots to the leaves and other
Lysosomes are called suicidal bags as they hold
parts of the plants.
digestive enzymes in an enclosed membrane.
They perform the function of cellular waste
Phloem Cells
disposal by digesting worn-out organelles, food
particles and foreign bodies in the cell. In plants, Phloem cells are other transport cells in vascular
the role of lysosomes is undertaken by the plants. They transport food prepared by the leaves
vacuoles. to different parts of the plants.

Plant Cell Types Plant Cell Functions

Cells of a matured and higher plant become Plant cells are the building blocks of plants.
specialized to perform certain vital functions that Photosynthesis is the major function performed
are essential for their survival. Few plant cells are by plant cells.
involved in the transportation of nutrients and
water, while others for storing food. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of the
plant cell. It is the process of preparing food by the
The specialized plant cells include parenchyma plants, by utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide and
cells, sclerenchyma cells, collenchyma cells, xylem water. Energy is produced in the form of ATP in
cells and phloem cells. the process.
A few plant cells help in the transport of water and role in skin immunity. They are found in the upper
nutrients from the roots and leaves to different layers of the epidermis and are activated by
parts of the plants. pathogens. They contain organelles called Birbeck
granules, which are formed from inflammasomes
The following types of cells found in the human (a type of protein) and help to produce cytokines
body. to fight infection.

Red blood cells: Merkel cells – Also called Tactile epithelial cells or
Merkel-Ranvier cells, are found in the human skin
Erythrocytes are the most common type of cell,
(right below the epidermis) and are believed to be
and their main job is to transport oxygen, carbon
essential for sensing touch.
dioxide, nutrients and other substances
throughout the body.
Heart Muscle Cells:

White blood cells Also called cardiomyocytes, these are the cells
that make up the cardiac muscles.
these cells fight against infection, inflammation,
and other disease. They also help your immune
Stem Cells
system to detect things that shouldn’t be in your
body. White blood cells are further classified into: Stem cells are cells that have not differentiated
into any particular type yet. They can either
Agranulocytes – This type of WBC has no distinct become a particular cell type of divide and
granules in their cytoplasm, hence the name. become more stem cells. They are usually found
Examples include monocytes and lymphocytes. in embryos as well as adult tissues such as bone
marrow. Stem cells can be classified into the
Granulocytes – Unlike agranulocytes, this type of following:
WBC has granulated structures in its cytoplasm.
Examples include basophils, eosinophils and Totipotent cells – Totipotent cells are cells that
neutrophils. can form any cell in the body.

Platelets: Pluripotent cells – Pluripotent cells are cells that

may become any cell except an egg or sperm.
Also called thrombocytes, these are tiny,
colourless cell fragments. When you have a cut or
Multipotent cells – This type of cell can develop
a bruise, platelets stick to the injured area and
into more than one type of cell but are generally
help stop bleeding.
more limited than pluripotent cells.

Skin cells
Bone Cells:
Skin is the largest organ in our bodies, and it’s
As the name indicates, these are the cells which
made up of two different types of cells:
make up the bone tissue. Bone cells are further
classified into the following types based on their
Keratinocytes: Keratinocytes are a type of cell that
function – Osteoclasts, Osteoblasts and
make up the epidermis. They form a tough,
Osteocytes.
protective layer for the body and protects us from
infections
Osteoclasts: Osteoclasts are one of the types of
bone cells that break down and reabsorb bone
Melanocytes: Melanocytes are found in the skin,
tissue. These are important cells as they are used
hair, and eyes. They produce the pigment
to initiate bone remodeling.
melanin, which is responsible for skin color and
protection from the sun’s UV rays.
Osteoblasts: Osteoblasts are a type of cell that
builds new bone tissue. They are also produced in
Langerhans cells – Langerhans cells are a type of
the bone marrow and spread to the surface of
“antigen-presenting cell” that play an important
bones.
Osteocyte: a type of cell that is found inside the Sex cells
substance of fully developed bones. The functions
Spermatozoa and Ova are the main sex cells of
of osteocytes include responding to mechanical
humans.
stress and signalling bone resorption or
formation, modification of the microenvironment,
Spermatozoa is exclusive to male humans and is
and regulating local and systemic mineral
composed of a head, neck, and tail. The head
homeostasis.
includes a nucleus with genetic material that can
fertilize the egg cell.
Myocytes:

Also called muscle cells, are long and tubular cells Ova is the female equivalent to sperm cells. It
that are essential for a wide variety of functions contains all the necessary DNA to create an
including support, internal, external movement embryo.
and more. For example, peristalsis is a type of
internal movement which is important for Prokaryotic Cell (Bacteria)
digestion.
Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack
Chondrocytes: membrane-bound structures, the most
noteworthy of which is the nucleus. Prokaryotic
This type of cells are found in cartilage. These cells cells tend to be small, simple cells, measuring
produce a matrix which primarily consists of around 0.1-5 μm in diameter.
collagen and proteoglycans.

Nerve Cells:

Nerve cells, also called neurons, are the

fundamental building blocks of the nervous
system. They enable communication between
different areas of your body and brain. These cells
can carry messages from your brain to other parts
of your body via electrical impulses.

Neuroglial cells, also known as glial cells, are

found in our brains and spinal cord and are tasked
with the optimum functioning of the nervous
system.

Fat Cells
Nucleoid: A central region of the cell that contains
A person’s weight is determined by the number
its DNA.
and size of their fat cells. The two types of fat cells
are:
Ribosome: Ribosomes are responsible for protein
synthesis.
White adipocytes – White adipocytes store
energy as triglycerides
Cell wall: The cell wall provides structure and
protection from the outside environment. Most
Brown adipocytes – Brown adipocytes burn
bacteria have a rigid cell wall made from
energy as heat (thermogenesis). Moreover, as
carbohydrates and proteins called peptidoglycans.
people age, they produce less white fat cells and
more brown fat cells.
Cell membrane: Every prokaryote has a cell
membrane, also known as the plasma membrane,
that separates the cell from the outside
environment.
Capsule: Some bacteria have a layer of Fungi Cell
carbohydrates that surrounds the cell wall called
the capsule. The capsule helps the bacterium Fungal cell walls are rigid and contain complex
attach to surfaces. polysaccharides called chitin (adds structural
strength) and glucans.
Fimbriae: Fimbriae are thin, hair-like structures
that help with cellular attachment.
Ergosterol is the steroid molecule in the cell
membranes that replaces the cholesterol found in
Pili: Pili are rod-shaped structures involved in
animal cell membranes.
multiple roles, including attachment and DNA
transfer.
Fungi can be unicellular, multicellular, or
Flagella: Flagella are thin, tail-like structures that dimorphic, which is when the fungi is unicellular
assist in movement. or multicellular depending on environmental
conditions.
Eukaryotic Cell (Plant and Animal)
Fungi in the morphological vegetative stage
Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells have a consist of a tangle of slender, thread-like hyphae,
nucleus and other organelles enclosed by a whereas the reproductive stage is usually more
plasma membrane. Organelles are internal obvious.
structures responsible for a variety of functions,
such as energy production and protein synthesis.
Fungi like to be in a moist and slightly acidic
environment; they can grow with or without light
or oxygen.
Prokaryot Eukaryote
e
Fungi are saprophytic heterotrophs in that they
use dead or decomposing organic matter as a
Nucleus Absent Present source of carbon.

glucan: any polysaccharide that is a polymer of

Membrane-bou Absent Present glucose
nd organelles

ergosterol: the functional equivalent of

Cell structure Unicellula Mostly cholesterol found in cell membranes of fungi and
r multicellular; some some protists, as well as, the steroid precursor of
unicellular vitamin D2

mycelium: the vegetative part of any fungus,

Cell size Smaller Larger (10-100 μm)
consisting of a mass of branching, threadlike
(0.1-5 μm)
hyphae, often underground

Complexity Simpler More complex hypha: a long, branching, filamentous structure of

a fungus that is the main mode of vegetative
growth
DNA Form Circular Linear
septum: cell wall division between hyphae of a
Examples Bacteria, Animals, plants, fungus
archaea fungi, protists
thallus: vegetative body of a fungus
saprophyte: any organism that lives on dead multicellular protists such as kelp. Some
organic matter, as certain fungi and bacteria species of kelp grow so large that they
exceed over 100 feet in height. (Giant Kelp).
chitin: a complex polysaccharide, a polymer of 3. Just like any other eukaryote, the cells of
N-acetylglucosamine, found in the exoskeletons of these species have a nucleus and
arthropods and in the cell walls of fungi; thought membrane-bound organelles.
to be responsible for some forms of asthma in 4. They may be autotrophic or heterotrophic
humans in nature. An autotrophic organism can
create its own food and survive. A
Protists heterotrophic organism, on the other
hand, has to derive nutrition from other
organisms such as plants or animals to
Protists are simple eukaryotic organisms that are
survive.
neither plants nor animals or fungi. Protists are
5. Symbiosis is observed in the members of
unicellular in nature but can also be found as a
this class. For instance, kelp (seaweed) is a
colony of cells. Most protists live in water, damp
multicellular protist that provides otters
terrestrial environments or even as parasites.
protection from predators amidst its thick
kelp. In turn, the otters eat sea urchins that
tend to feed on kelp.
6. Parasitism is also observed in protists.
Species such as Trypanosoma protozoa
can cause sleeping sickness in humans.
7. Protists exhibit locomotion through cilia
and flagella. A few organisms belonging to
the kingdom Protista have pseudopodia
that help them to move.
8. Protista reproduces by asexual means. The
The term ‘Protista’ is derived from the Greek word sexual method of reproduction is
“protistos”, meaning “the very first“. These extremely rare and occurs only during
organisms are usually unicellular and the cell of times of stress.
these organisms contains a nucleus which is
bound to the organelles. Some of them even Classification of Protista
possess structures that aid locomotion like
Kingdom Protista is classified into the following:
flagella or cilia.

Scientists speculate that protists form a link Protozoa

between plants, animals and fungi as these three Protozoans are unicellular organisms. Historically,
kingdoms diverged from a common protist-like protozoans were called “animal” protists as they
ancestor, billions of years ago. Though this are heterotrophic and showed animal-like
“protists-like” ancestor is a hypothetical organism, behaviors.
we can trace some genes found in modern
animals and plants to these ancient organisms. There are also parasitic protozoans which live in
the cells of larger organisms. Most of the
Therefore, these organisms are traditionally members do not have a predefined shape. For
considered the first eukaryotic forms of life and a instance, an amoeba can change its shape
predecessor to plants, animals and fungi. indefinitely but a paramecium has a definite
slipper-like shape. The most well-known examples
1. These are usually aquatic, present in the
of protozoans are amoeba, paramecium, and
soil or in areas with moisture.
euglena. Unlike other members of this group,
2. Most protist species are unicellular
euglena is a free-living protozoan that has
organisms, however, there are a few
chlorophyll, which means it can make its own present in them. They show bioluminescence and
food. known to cause red tide.

The protozoans can be divided into four major Euglenoids are the link between plants and
groups: animals. They lack a cell wall but perform
photosynthesis. In the absence of sunlight, they
1. Amoeboid protozoans – Mostly found in act as a heterotroph and feed on small organisms.
water bodies, either fresh or saline. They The outer body covering is a protein-rich layer
have pseudopodia (false feet) which help known as a pellicle. E.g. Euglena, Trachelomonas,
to change their shape and to capture and etc.
engulf food. E.g. Amoeba.
2. Flagellated protozoans – As the name
suggests, the members of this group have
flagella. They can be free-living as well as
parasitic. E.g. Euglena.
3. Ciliated protozoans – They have cilia all
over their body which help in locomotion
as well as nutrition. They are always
aquatic. E.g. Paramecium.
4. Sporozoans – These organisms are
so-called because their life cycle has a
spore-like stage. For example, the malarial
parasite, Plasmodium.

Slime Moulds

Slime moulds are saprophytic organisms (they

feed on dead and decaying matter). These are tiny
organisms that have many nuclei.

Usually, Slime moulds are characterized by the

presence of aggregates called plasmodium and
are even visible to the naked eye.

Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates and Euglenoids

These form another category under kingdom

Protista. These are generally single-celled or
multicellular organisms. These are
photosynthetic, found mostly in freshwater
sources or marine lakes. They are characterized by
a stiff cell wall.

Examples of chrysophytes include diatoms and

golden algae. They are characterized by the
presence of a hard siliceous cell wall.
Diatomaceous earth is formed due to the
accumulation of cell wall deposits. They are
photosynthetic organisms.

Dinoflagellates are photosynthetic and found in

various different colors, according to the pigment