Animal Cell | Definition , Functions & Structure

Animal Cell Definition

An Animal Cell is the rudimentary unit of life for Kingdom Animalia organisms. They have Eukaryotic characteristics. These cells consist of accurate Nucleus and also contain dedicated structures which perform specific function inside the cell and are called Organelles. Like the Plant cells, they did not possess Cell Wall and Photosynthetic Center Chloroplast.

Functions of Animal Cell

Here are the few functions of Animal Cell:

These cells control the processes happening in the body efficiently.
Cells control synthesis and storage of Energy.
Cells also perform and control the Replication, Translation, and transcription of DNA.
Cells are extremely dedicated to carrying out precise responsibilities.
Red blood cells encompassed of Hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the cells which did not contain any nuclei and its main function is to transfer oxygen throughout the whole body.
In the human body, there are approximately 200 different types of cells are present.
The heart consists of Cardiac Cells which work in harmony.
Inside the human body, Ciliary cells are present in the Digestive Tract which increase the surface area and help in the process digestion.
Numerous cells syndicate and form Tissues. Which perform a specialized function in the human body.
Analogous tissues assembled and form the organs of the body, like lungs, brain, heart.
In short, Cells are basically the “Edifice Wedges” of Organ systems.

Animal Cell Structure

The Animal cell has an assortment of diverse portions. It comprised of various types Organelles. Inside the Cell, each organelle performs the specific task. All organelles are not present in all the animal cells. This is an artist’s execution of the fragments of the Animal cell.

Nucleus

The Cell Nucleus is the significant module of the Cell. The nucleus is present in all the cells but matured mammalian erythrocytes cells dearth the Nucleus. Nucleus structure is very complex. The nucleus has about 4-6µm diameter. The nucleus is enclosed by a Peri-nuclear wrapping. There are numerous pores present on the Nuclear Envelope. The outer membrane of the nuclear envelope fuses with the inner membrane to formulate pores. The nucleus is a spherical shape organelle present in Eukaryotic cell. Inside the cell nucleus, Nucleoplasm is present which is viscous liquid.

Nucleolus function in Animal cell

Nucleolus has following foremost functions:

It rations the cell’s hereditary material or DNA.
it also helps to synchronize cellular activities like Growth, Intermediary Metabolism, Protein Synthesis, and Reproduction (cell division).
It is present in Eukaryotic Cells.

Lysosomes

They are single membrane vesicles; whose size is an in-between size between Microsomes and Mitochondria. They are bounded by a membrane composed of Lipoprotein. Lysosomes contain Hydrolytic Enzymes like Phosphatase and Ribonuclease. Lysosomes are essentially single membrane-bound sac. That is filled with enzymes that help in digestion. It is found in all eukaryotic cells. Lysosomes act as ‘garbage disposal’ of the cell.

Golgi Apparatus

Golgi apparatus was discovered in 1898 by biologist Camillo Golgi. Golgi apparatus is also called the Golgi complex or Golgi body. Golgi apparatus customary establishment of the single membrane-bound organelle. That is mostly initiated in Eukaryotic Cells. Golgi apparatus is made up of a sequence of flattened, single membrane slanted pouches which are called Cisternae. The Golgi apparatus is in charge of transferring, acclimatizing, and packaging of Proteins as well as lipids into small vesicles. That is transported to beleaguered destinations inside the cell.

Peroxisomes

The peroxisome is membrane-bound organelle stirring in the cytoplasm of Eukaryotic cells. Peroxisomes are also known as Microbodies. They are single – membrane vesicles of about 0.5 millimeters in diameter. They comprised of Enzyme, D-amino acid enzyme, salt enzyme, and alternative Aerophiles enzymes. Peroxisomes play a key role in the biomolecules oxidation.

Ribosomes

The outer membrane of the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum comprised of small particles which are generally known as Ribosomes. They are minutest Cytoplasm components. Its structure is extremely preserved and fluctuates from species to species. They are basically Protein Synthesis Units and its diameter extending between 15 to 25 nm. Protein Synthesis Units are mainly composed of two major Subunits. Ribosomal smaller subunit reads (mRNA) Messenger RNA code. The larger subunit assembles the polypeptide chain from amino acids. Each ribosomal subunit also contains ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Cytoplasm

The intracellular Cell material which consists of mutually Soluble and Insoluble ingredients is known as Cytoplasm. The cytosol is the soluble fluid portion of the cytoplasm. The cytosol is the residential area in which the organelles are engrossed. The cytosol is also documented as Cell Sap. Cell Sap comprised of Water, Proteins, Lipids, and various other solutes. It is exceedingly viscous in nature. In the cytosol metabolic processes like Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, Amino acids activation, and Fatty acids synthesis.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Endoplasmic Reticulum comprised of single membrane flattened vesicles. These have the same lipid bilayer structure as the cell membrane have. But it is turpentine than the about 7mm. The Endoplasmic Reticulum is of two types; Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) and Smooth (SER) Endoplasmic Reticulum. Only the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum has small particles known as ribosomes.

Vacuoles

Vacuoles are present both in Animal and Plant cells. Vacuoles are surrounded by a single membrane. The membrane of the vacuole is a collection of Phospholipids. Its major function is to store waste material of the Cell. In the membrane of the vacuole, proteins are entrenched which allow the conveyance of molecules.

Mitochondria

Mitochondria are the site for the production of ATP due to this quality it is known as ‘Power House of the Cell’. They are major ATP pieces of machinery of the Cell present in the Cytoplasm. Its shape varies. They might be spherical, filamentous, sausage-shaped. The normal size of Mitochondria varies 0.5 to 3μ long 0.1 to 0.6μ wide. Mitochondria illustrate up to 15% -20% of the dry weight of the Cell. Double membrane-bound organelle presents in Eukaryotic Cells Cytoplasm.

Cytosol

The cytosol is the liquid confined inside the Cells. Inside the Cytosol, all the organelles are anchored excepting from the Nucleus. It is communally denoted to as a Cell’s cytoplasm. The cytosol is typically made of Water and also comprised of Ions like Potassium, Proteins, and Small Molecules. The pH of cytosol is around 7 and it’s almost considered Neutral.

Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeleton is a filamentous and tubular network of the present in the Cytoplasm. Cytoskeleton major functions are to gives the shape of Cell, delivers métier, alleviates tissues, anchors organelles inside the Cell, and it also plays a vital role in Cell Signaling. There are three categories of Cytoskeletal Filaments: 1. Microfilaments, Microtubules, and Intermediate filaments.

Cell Membrane

Cell Membrane is the outer layer of the Cell. The cell is surrounded by a membrane called the cell membrane. The cell membrane is also called Plasma Membrane or Plasmalemma. Its major function is to separate internal cell organelles from its surrounding. The cell membrane embraced owo layers of Polysaccharide chains that are crosslinked with the assistance of dumpy Peptide Chains. Lipopolysaccharide covering is present on the outer surface of the cell membrane.