Eukaryotic Animal Cell
Figure 1. A typical eukaryotic animal cell
CC BY: OpenStax College
Figure 1 Description
- Peroxisome (mint green circles located on the left side of the image): metabolize toxic peroxides into harmless water.
- Cytoskeleton: a network of protein fibers that provide the cellular movement, and is made up of three different types of proteins.
- Microtubules (thin, dark brown lines located at the top of the image): long hollow cylinders that form the mitotic spindle and maintain cell shape.
- Centrosome (dark brown tube-like structure situated in the upper part of the picture): microtubule-organizing center.
- Microfilaments (thin green lines at the top of the image in the cytoplasm) fibrous proteins form the cellular cortex.
- Intermediate filaments (thin, purple lines in the cytoplasm area): fibrous proteins that hold organelles in place.
- Lysosome (raspberry color circles on the right side of the image in the cytoplasm): digest food, etc.
- Golgi apparatus (light pink, multi-shapes floating in the cytoplasm): modifies proteins.
- Cytoplasm (yellow color filling the cell): a thick solution that fills each cell, and is enclosed by the cell membrane.
- Vacuole (gray kidney shape in the lower right of the image): storage bubbles found in cells.
- Plasma Membrane (tan colored lines surrounding the cell): form the outer border of the cytoplasm of a cell.
- Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (tiny maroon colored dots): surround the nuclear envelope giving the appearance of a bumpy outline.
- Mitochondria (peanut shape and color object in the cytoplasm): produce energy.
- Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (blue-green dots): floating in the cytoplasm.
- Nucleus: the Command Center for eukaryotic cells.
- Nuclear Envelope (dark teal thin line): membrane enclosing the nucleus. Protein-lined pores allow material to move in and out.
- Chromatin (dark plum looping lines inside the nucleus): DNA plus associated proteins.
- Nucleolus (dark purple circle in the center of the nucleus): condensed region where ribosomes are formed.