Parts of Eukaryotic Cell

1. Nucleus – this is the most noticeable feature that differentiates eukaryotes from prokaryotes. It is a membrane-bound central cell organelle which contains the genetic material – DNA

2. Plasma membrane – it is the structure that serves as the boundary between the cytoplasm of the cell and the external environment. It is phospholipid bilayer, a double membrane composed of a unique type of lipid that spontaneously organizes into two layers. The plasma membrane regulates the materials that enter or leave the cell and provides mechanisms for cell-to-cell communication.

3. Cytoplasm – it is the jellylike materials that consist of the organelles outside the nucleus and fluid portion called cytosol. The flowing movement of cytosol, known as cytoplasmic streaming, allows organelles to interact with one another.

4. Cytoskeleton – this is a network of microtubules, intermediate filaments and microfilaments which is the cellular “scaffolding” or “skeleton” within the cell. This scaffolding has various functions: maintains the cell’s shape, protects the cell, enables some cell motion (using flagella and cilia), plays important role in intra-cellular transport (the movement of vesicles and organelles) and it is involved in cellular division.

5. Cilia and Flagella – these are external appendages of the plasma membrane that aid in locomotion of the cell, adhesion and movement of materials on the outside of the cell. Cilia are tiny hair like structures while flagella are whip-like tail. Cilia are shorten than flagella and there are more cilia per cell compared to flagella.

6. Ribosomes – these are the tiny cellular structures involved in making proteins under the instruction of DNA. Ribosomes are found attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum or floating free in the cytoplasm.

7. Mitochondria – they are small spherical to rod-shaped cytoplasmic organelles, enclosed by two membranes. They are considered the powerhouse of the cell because it is the site of the final and most energy-productive steps of metabolism which generates cellular energy (ATP).

8. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) – a network of tubules and flattened sacs which is a continuation of the outer nuclear membrane. There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum, rough ER and smooth ER. The granules that are attached to rough ER are the ribosomes that form granules on the surface to give it a “rough” appearance. It is involved in the synthesis of proteins. Smooth ER does not contain ribosome and it is involved with the synthesis of fatty acids and membrane components such as lipids.

9. Golgi bodies (Golgi apparatus, Golgi complex) – stacked, flattened membranes which is involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging the macromolecules for use within the cell or for secretion.

10. Centrioles – cylindrically-shaped cell structure found in animal cells which play a role in cell division.

11. Chloroplasts – these are round, oval, or disk-shaped structure within a green plant cell in which photosynthesis occurs. They absorb light energy and convert them to chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis.

12. Lysosomes – these are membrane-bound vesicles found in animal cell that contain hydrolytic enzymes.

13. Peroxisomes – small, membrane-enclosed organelles that contain enzymes which are involved in the breakdown of fatty acid molecules.