Animal Cell Functions

A n im alC elF u n ctio n s
Brett Chinchen
Cells contain specialised, subcellular
structures that are adapted to keep a
cell alive. These structures perform
different roles from releasing energy to
producing proteins, from transporting
substances to controlling cellular
activities. Collectively, these structures
are called organelles.
Plant and animal cells both contain

organelles, many of which are found in
both types of cells. However, there are
some organelles (such as chloroplasts,
the cell wall, and large vacuoles) that
are only found in plant cells.
Animal Cell types
• A number of different cells
help with different parts of an
animal’s body and its function.
• Each type of cell, has its own
job to do.
• These cells have special
features that allow them to
perform their functions
effectively.
• For instance, skin, muscle,
blood, nerve, cardiac and fat
cells etc.
• Cells share features such as
nucleus, cell membrane,
cytoplasm and mitochondria.
Different types of cells and where in the body
they can be found
• Nerve cells in the spinal column for instance. Nerve and Brain Cells: Found
throughout the nervous system.
• Muscle cells in the muscles of the body. Muscle Cells: Basic units of muscle tissue.
• Gland cells in the glands for example the lymph gland.
• Blood cells in the blood. Blood Cells: Circulate throughout the body to deliver
oxygen, carry away carbon dioxide waste, and play a role in the immune system.
• Reproductive cells in the reproductive organs.
• Bone cells in the bones. Especially in the skeletal system
• Skin and Epithelial Cells in the skin.
• Fat Cells: Found in adipose tissue.
The Nucleus
• All eukaryotic cells have a nucleus and
it contains all the DNA of a cell.
• The nucleus is the control centre of the
cell and houses all of the cell’s genetic
information. Usually, a cell has a single
nucleus that contains all of its DNA
molecules, but some (such as skeletal
muscle cells) have more than one
nucleus.
• The nucleus protects the cell’s DNA

while controlling all other cellular
activities, such as cell division, growth,
protein production, and cell death.
Ribosomes
• The DNA molecules housed in the nucleus
also contain blueprints for all of the
proteins produced by a cell.
• These blueprints are ‘read’ and
interpreted by ribosomes, which are the
site of protein production in plant and
animal cells.
• Ribosomes produce proteins by
assembling amino acid sequences
according to the instructions contained in
the genetic code.
• The resulting polypeptide chains are then
folded into specific primary, tertiary, or
quaternary 3D structures by other cell
Mitochondria
• Cells need energy to power their
biochemical reactions, and most of
that energy is released by
mitochondria.
• Mitochondria are the site of cellular
respiration and also release energy
for the cell.
• Mitochondria are the site of
respiration and the ‘powerhouses’ of
cells, pumping out energy which is
then stored in ATP (adenosine
triphosphate).
• ATP molecules are the energy
currency of cells and are used to fuel
all the other activities of the cell.
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
• The endoplasmic reticulum is a network of
membranes inside a cell, and its main
functions are to process and transport new
materials.
• There are two types of endoplasmic
reticulum; rough ER, and smooth.
• The rough is studded with ribosomes, giving
it a bumpy or ‘rough’ appearance. It folds
and tags newly-synthesized proteins before
transporting them to wherever they are
needed in the body.
• The smooth does not have ribosomes
attached to it and is involved in lipid and
hormone production.
• Once newly-synthesised
Golgi Apparatus
substances have left the
ER, they are sent to the
Golgi apparatus. This is a
series of flatted,
membrane-bound sacs
that packages and
distributes substances to
the outer cell membrane,
where they either
become part of the lipid
bilayer or leave the cell.
• The Golgi apparatus is the
like a transport conduit or
'mailroom' of the cell -
packaging and distributing
substances across the cell.
Lysosome
s
• Lysosomes are small,
spherical organelles that are
packed full of digestive
enzymes.
• Their key function is to break
down and recycle unwanted
material for the cell, such as
old cell parts or invading
bacteria and viruses.
• Lysosomes also play an
important role in apoptosis
(AKA programmed cell
death).
Cytoplasm
• The cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance
that fills the interior space of cells.
• Composed of largely water, but also
salts, enzymes, and other organic
molecules.
• The cytoplasm surrounds and protects
the organelles of the cell and is where
many cellular processes (such as
protein synthesis and glycolysis) take
place.
• Cytoplasm is a jelly-like substance that
surrounds the organelles
The Cell Membrane also
called the Plasma Membrane
• All cells are surrounded by

a cell membrane, which
consists of a
semipermeable
phospholipid bilayer.
• The cell membrane
controls which substances
enter and leave the cell,
and also separates the
interior of the cell from its
external environment.
Bibliography
• Animal Cell: Structure, Parts, Functions, Labeled
Diagram (microbenotes.com)
• Cell | Definition, Types, Functions, Diagram, Division, Theory, &
Facts | Britannica
• Cell biology - GCSE Combined Science - BBC Bitesize
• Cell Biology | Learn Science at Scitable (nature.com)
• Cell biology – Wikipedia
• Cell (biology) – Wikipedia
• Structure of a cell | Biology library | Science | Khan Academy
• What Is a Cell? | Learn Science at Scitable (nature.com)
• What are specialised cells? - What are cells? - 3rd level Science
Revision - BBC Bitesize
• Animal Cells | Basic Biology

Animal Cell Functions

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A n im alC elF u n ctio n s

Plant and animal cells both contain

• The nucleus protects the cell’s DNA

• All cells are surrounded by

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