The following is a glossary of plant cell anatomy terms.

amyloplast - an organelle in some plant cells that stores starch. Amyloplasts are found in starchy plants like tubers and fruits. ATP - ATP is short for adenosine triphosphate; it is a high-energy molecule used for energy storage by organisms. In plant cells, ATP is produced in the cristae of mitochondria andchloroplasts. cell membrane - the thin layer of protein and fat that surrounds the cell, but is inside the cell wall. The cell membrane is semipermeable, allowing some substances to pass into the cell and blocking others. cell wall - a thick, rigid membrane that surrounds a plant cell. This layer of cellulose fiber gives the cell most of its support and structure. The cell wall also bonds with other cell walls to form the structure of the plant. centrosome - (also called the "microtubule organizing center") a small body located near the nucleus - it has a dense center and radiating tubules. The centrosomes is where microtubules are made. During cell division (mitosis), the centrosome divides and the two parts move to opposite sides of the dividing cell. Unlike the centrosomes in animal cells, plant cell centrosomes do not have centrioles. chlorophyll - chlorophyll is a molecule that can use light energy from sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide gas into sugar and oxygen (this process is called photosynthesis). Chlorophyll is magnesium based and is usually green. chloroplast - an elongated or disc-shaped organelle containing chlorophyll. Photosynthesis (in which energy from sunlight is converted into chemical energy food) takes place in the chloroplasts. christae - (singular crista) the multiply-folded inner membrane of a cell's mitochondrion that are finger-like projections. The walls of the cristae are the site of the cell's energy production (it is where ATP is generated). cytoplasm - the jellylike material outside the cell nucleus in which the organelles are located. Golgi body - (also called the golgi apparatus or golgi complex) a flattened, layered, sac-like organelle that looks like a stack of pancakes and is located near the nucleus. The golgi body packages proteins and carbohydrates into membranebound vesicles for "export" from the cell. granum - (plural grana) A stack of thylakoid disks within the chloroplast is called a granum. mitochondrion - spherical to rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. The inner membrane is infolded many times, forming a series of projections (called cristae). The mitochondrion converts the energy stored in glucose into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) for the cell. nuclear membrane - the membrane that surrounds the nucleus. nucleolus - an organelle within the nucleus - it is where ribosomal RNA is produced. nucleus - spherical body containing many organelles, including the nucleolus. The

nucleus controls many of the functions of the cell (by controlling protein synthesis) and contains DNA (in chromosomes). The nucleus is surrounded by the nuclear membrane photosynthesis - a process in which plants convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food energy (sugars and starches), oxygen and water. Chlorophyll or closely-related pigments (substances that color the plant) are essential to the photosynthetic process. ribosome - small organelles composed of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules that are sites of protein synthesis. rough endoplasmic reticulum - (rough ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted sacks that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). Rough ER is covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance. Rough ER transport materials through the cell and produces proteins in sacks called cisternae (which are sent to the Golgi body, or inserted into the cell membrane). smooth endoplasmic reticulum - (smooth ER) a vast system of interconnected, membranous, infolded and convoluted tubes that are located in the cell's cytoplasm (the ER is continuous with the outer nuclear membrane). The space within the ER is called the ER lumen. Smooth ER transport materials through the cell. It contains enzymes and produces and digests lipids (fats) and membrane proteins; smooth ER buds off from rough ER, moving the newly-made proteins and lipids to the Golgi body and membranes stroma - part of the chloroplasts in plant cells, located within the inner membrane of chloroplasts, between the grana. thylakoid disk - thylakoid disks are disk-shaped membrane structures in chloroplasts that contain chlorophyll. Chloroplasts are made up of stacks of thylakoid disks; a stack of thylakoid disks is called a granum. Photosynthesis (the production of ATP molecules from sunlight) takes place on thylakoid disks. vacuole - a large, membrane-bound space within a plant cell that is filled with fluid. Most plant cells have a single vacuole that takes up much of the cell. It helps maintain the shape of the cell. Related Pages:

Plant Cell Printout

Label the plant cell diagram using the glossary of plant cell terms. Answers

Animal Cell Anatomy

An animal cell diagram plus a glossary of animal cell terms.

Enchanted Learning

Over 35,000 Web Pages Sample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below
Overview of Site What's New Enchanted Learning Home Monthly Activity Calendar Books to Print Site Index K-3 Crafts K-3 Themes Little Explorers Picture dictionary PreK/K Activities Rebus Rhymes Stories Writing Cloze Activities Essay Topics Newspaper Writing Activities Parts of Speech Fiction The Test of Time iPhone app TapQuiz Maps - free iPhone Geography Game

Click to read our Privacy Policy

E-mail

Enchanted Learning Search

Search the Enchanted Learning website for:

Search

Advertisement.
Plant Cell Organelles Are you looking for information on plant cell organelles and their functions? Here is a brief information about the list of organelles present in a plant cell and the roles they play in the overall functioning of a cell.

Plants are highly evolved, eukaryotic organisms that contain membrane-bound cell organelles. Even though plants and animals belong to eukaryotes, they differ in certain characteristic features. For example, a plant cell possesses a well-developed cell wall and large vacuoles, while an animal cell lacks such structural parts. Besides these structural differences, a plant cell lacks centrioles and intermediate filaments, which are present in an animal cell. A typical plant cell is made up of cytoplasm and organelles. In fact, all the organelles (except nucleus) and subcellular structures are present in the cytoplasm, which is enclosed by protective layers (the cell wall and cell membrane). Scientific studies have been done regarding the cell organelles and their functions. Each of the organelles of a plant cell has specific functions, without which the cell cannot operate properly. The plant cell is protected from the surrounding environment by the cell wall and cell membrane. Note that these two are surface structures and not cell organelles. They not only give shape, support, and strength to the cell, but also aid in transportation. When it comes to the organelles found in a plant cell, they are more or less similar to animal cells, except that the latter lacks chloroplasts, that are responsible for photosynthesis. Following is a list of organelles found in plant cell. Nucleus Nucleus (plural nuclei) is a highly specialized cell organelle, which stores the genetic component (chromosomes) of the particular cell. It serves as the main administrative center of the cell by coordinating the metabolic processes like cell growth, cell division, and protein synthesis. Together, the nucleus along with its contents is referred to as nucleoplasm. Plastids (Chloroplasts) Plastids are a collective term for organelles that carry pigments. In a plant cell, chloroplasts are the most prominent forms of plastids that contain the green chlorophyll pigment. Because of these chloroplast plastids, a plant cell has the ability to undergo photosynthesis in the presence of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to synthesize its own food. Ribosomes Ribosomes are plant organelles that comprise proteins (40 percent) and ribonucleic acid or RNA (60 percent). They are responsible for the synthesis of proteins. Inside the cell, a ribosome may occur freely (free ribosome) or it may be attached to another organelle, endoplasmic reticulum (bound ribosome). Each ribosome consists of two parts, a larger subunit and a smaller subunit. Mitochondria

Mitochondria (singular mitochondrion) are large, spherical or rod-shaped organelles present in the cytoplasm of the plant cell. They break down the complex carbohydrates and sugars into usable forms for the plant. A mitochondrion contains certain enzymes that are essential for supply of energy to the plant cell. Hence, these cell organelles also known as the powerhouse of the cell. Golgi Body A golgi body is also referred to as golgi complex or golgi apparatus. It plays a major role in transporting chemical substances in and out of the cell. After the endoplasmic reticulum synthesizes lipids and proteins, golgi body alters and prepares them for exporting outside the cell. Arranged in a saclike pattern, this organelle is located near the cell nucleus. Endoplasmic Reticulum Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the connecting link between the nucleus and cytoplasm of the plant cell. Basically, it is a network of interconnected, convoluted sacs present in the cytoplasm. Based on the presence or absence of ribosomes, ER can be of smooth or rough types. The former type lacks ribosomes, while the latter is covered with ribosomes. Overall, endoplasmic reticulum serves as a manufacturing, storing, and transporting structure for glycogen, proteins, steroids, and other compounds. Vacuoles Vacuoles are the membrane-bound, storage organelles that help in regulating turgor pressure of the plant cell. In a plant cell, there can be more than one vacuole. However, the centrally located vacuole is larger than others, which stores all sorts of chemical compounds. Vacuoles also assist in intracellular digestion of complex molecules and excretion of waste products. Peroxisomes Peroxisomes are cytoplasmic organelles of the plant cell, which contains certain oxidative enzymes. These enzymes are used for the metabolic breakdown of fatty acids into simple sugar forms. Another important function of peroxisomes is to help chloroplasts in undergoing photorespiration process. Well! This was a brief information regarding plant cell organelles, their structure, and specific functions. Other parts of the plant cell include microfilaments (structural component), microtubules (cytoskeleton component), and plasmodesmata (connecting tube between cells). As we have seen above, the coordination of cell organelles is crucial for carrying out the physiological and biochemical functionalities of the plant. By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani Last Updated: 12/27/2011

Don't Miss Labeled Plant Cell Diagram and Functions Plant Cell Structure and Parts Plant Cell Model Plant Cell Vs. Animal Cell Plant Cell Functions More From Buzzle Plant Cell Parts Plant Cell Structure and Function How to Make a 3D Plant Cell Model How to Make a Plant Cell Model Cell Wall Function Labeled Animal Cell Diagram Mitochondria Structure and Functions

Cell Nucleus: Structure and Functions Ribosomes Function Nucleolus F Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/plant-cell-organelles.html