Cells and their Organelles

The Plant Cell

Cell Wall

• Surrounding the cell membrane
• Thick and rigid
• Composed of cellulose
• Function:
• Protects the cell
• Gives the cell a regular shape
• Supports the cell
• Fully permeable

Vacuole

• Large, central vacuole containing cell sap. (sugars, waste, pigments)
• Vacuole membrane is known as tonoplast
• Functions:
• Maintain cell turgidity
• May store various substances
• May be found in animal cells
• Small in size
• Temporary
• Usually stores water and food substances

Chloroplast

• Oval structure
• Is not green
• Contains chlorophyll which is green and makes it green.
• Involved in photosynthesis
• Can be seen under a light micrograph
• Much bigger than the mitochondria, though both organelles are similar in shape
• Contains Thylakoid (1 disc) and Granum (whole stack)