Plant & animal cells

Small structures. Important jobs.

Typical animal cells and leaf plant cells have a cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus and mitochondria.

Cell membrane: controls what enters and leaves.

Cytoplasm: where many reactions happen.

Nucleus: contains genetic information.

Mitochondria: release energy through respiration.

The leaf cell also has a cell wall, chloroplasts and a large vacuole.

Cell wall: supports the cell.

Chloroplasts: absorb light for photosynthesis.

Large vacuole: contains cell sap and helps keep the cell firm.

Not all plant cells have chloroplasts.

Simplified diagrams, not drawn to scale.