Plant Cells - Definition, Diagram, Structure & Function

The cell is the basic unit of life in all organisms. Like humans and animals, plants are also composed of several cells. The
plant cell is surrounded by a cell wall which is involved in providing shape to the plant cell. Apart from the cell wall,
there are other organelles that are associated with different cellular activities.

Let us have a detailed look at the plant cell, its structure, and the functions of different plant cell organelles.

Plant Cell Definition

“Plant cells are eukaryotic cells with a true nucleus along with specialized structures called organelles that carry out
certain specific functions.”

What is a Plant Cell?

Plant cells are eukaryotic cells that vary in several fundamental factors from other eukaryotic organisms. Both plant and
animal cells contain a nucleus along with similar organelles. One of the distinctive aspects of a plant cell is the presence
of a cell wall outside the cell membrane.

Read more: Cells

Plant Cell Diagram

The plant cell is rectangular and comparatively larger than the animal cell. Even though plant and animal cells are
eukaryotic and share a few cell organelles, plant cells are quite distinct when compared to animal cells as they perform
different functions. Some of these differences can be clearly understood when the cells are examined under an electron
microscope.

Also Read: Cellulose in Digestion

Plant Cell Structure

Just like different organs within the body, plant cell structure includes various components known as cell organelles that
perform different functions to sustain itself. These organelles include:

Cell Wall

It is a rigid layer which is composed of polysaccharides cellulose, pectin and hemicellulose. It is located outside the cell
membrane. It also comprises glycoproteins and polymers such as lignin, cutin, or suberin.
The primary function of the cell wall is to protect and provide structural support to the cell. The plant cell wall is also
involved in protecting the cell against mechanical stress and providing form and structure to the cell. It also filters the
molecules passing in and out of it.

The formation of the cell wall is guided by microtubules. It consists of three layers, namely, primary, secondary and the
middle lamella. The primary cell wall is formed by cellulose laid down by enzymes.

Also Read: Cell Wall

Cell membrane

It is the semi-permeable membrane that is present within the cell wall. It is composed of a thin layer of protein and fat.

The cell membrane plays an important role in regulating the entry and exit of specific substances within the cell.

For instance, cell membrane keeps toxins from entering inside, while nutrients and essential minerals are transported
across.

Also Read: Cell Wall and Cell Membrane

Nucleus

The nucleus is a membrane-bound structure that is present only in eukaryotic cells. The vital function of a nucleus is to
store DNA or hereditary information required for cell division, metabolism and growth.

1. Nucleolus: It manufactures cells’ protein-producing structures and ribosomes.

2. Nucleopore: Nuclear membrane is perforated with holes called nucleopore that allow proteins and nucleic acids
to pass through.

Explore more: The Nucleus

Plastids

They are membrane-bound organelles that have their own DNA. They are necessary to store starch and to carry out the
process of photosynthesis. It is also used in the synthesis of many molecules, which form the building blocks of the cell.
Some of the vital types of plastids and their functions are stated below:

Peroxisomes

Leucoplasts

They are found in the non-photosynthetic tissue of plants. They are used for the storage of protein, lipid and starch.

Chloroplasts

It is an elongated organelle enclosed by phospholipid membrane. The chloroplast is shaped like a disc and the stroma is
the fluid within the chloroplast that comprises a circular DNA. Each chloroplast contains a green coloured pigment called
chlorophyll required for the process of photosynthesis. The chlorophyll absorbs light energy from the sun and uses it to
transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose.
Also Read: Chloroplasts

Chromoplasts

They are heterogeneous, coloured plastid which is responsible for pigment synthesis and for storage in photosynthetic
eukaryotic organisms. Chromoplasts have red, orange and yellow coloured pigments which provide colour to all ripe
fruits and flowers.

Central Vacuole

It occupies around 30% of the cell’s volume in a mature plant cell. Tonoplast is a membrane that surrounds the central
vacuole. The vital function of the central vacuole apart from storage is to sustain turgor pressure against the cell wall.
The central vacuole consists of cell sap. It is a mixture of salts, enzymes and other substances.

Also read: Vacuoles

Golgi Apparatus

They are found in all eukaryotic cells, which are involved in distributing synthesised macromolecules to various parts of
the cell.

Explore more: Golgi Apparatus

Ribosomes

They are the smallest membrane-bound organelles which comprise RNA and protein. They are the sites for protein
synthesis, hence, also referred to as the protein factories of the cell.

Explore more: Ribosomes

Mitochondria

They are the double-membraned organelles found in the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells. They provide energy by
breaking down carbohydrate and sugar molecules, hence they are also referred to as the “Powerhouse of the cell.”

Explore more: Mitochondria

Lysosome

Lysosomes are called suicidal bags as they hold digestive enzymes in an enclosed membrane. They perform the function
of cellular waste disposal by digesting worn-out organelles, food particles and foreign bodies in the cell. In plants, the
role of lysosomes is undertaken by the vacuoles.

Also read: Lysosomes

Plant Cell Types

Cells of a matured and higher plant become specialised to perform certain vital functions that are essential for their
survival. Few plant cells are involved in the transportation of nutrients and water, while others for storing food.
The specialised plant cells include parenchyma cells, sclerenchyma cells, collenchyma cells, xylem cells and phloem cells.

Following are some of the different types of plant cells:

Collenchyma Cells

They are hard or rigid cells, which play a primary role in providing support to the plants when there is restraining growth
in a plant due to lack of hardening agent in primary walls.

Sclerenchyma Cells

These cells are more rigid compared to collenchyma cells and this is because of the presence of a hardening agent.
These cells are usually found in all plant roots and mainly involved in providing support to the plants.

Parenchyma Cells

Parenchyma cells play a significant role in all plants. They are the living cells of plants, which are involved in the
production of leaves. They are also involved in the exchange of gases, production of food, storage of organic products
and cell metabolism. These cells are typically more flexible than others because they are thinner.

Xylem Cells

Xylem cells are the transport cells in vascular plants. They help in the transport of water and minerals from the roots to
the leaves and other parts of the plants.

Phloem Cells

Phloem cells are other transport cells in vascular plants. They transport food prepared by the leaves to different parts of
the plants.

Refer more: Plant Tissue System

Plant Cell Functions

Plant cells are the building blocks of plants. Photosynthesis is the major function performed by plant cells.

Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of the plant cell. It is the process of preparing food by the plants, by utilising
sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. Energy is produced in the form of ATP in the process.

A few plant cells help in the transport of water and nutrients from the roots and leaves to different parts of the plants.

To more about a plant cell, its definition, structure, diagram, types and functions, keep visiting BYJU’S Biology website or
download BYJU’S app for further reference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a plant cell?

A plant cell is a eukaryotic cell that contains a true nucleus and certain organelles to perform specific functions.
However, some of the organelles present in plant cells are different from other eukaryotic cells.

What are the different types of plant cells?

The different types of plant cells include- collenchyma, sclerenchyma, parenchyma, xylem and phloem.

Which organelles are found only in plant cells?

The organelles found only in plant cells include- chloroplast, cell wall, plastids, and a large central vacuole. The
chloroplasts contain a green pigment chlorophyll that is responsible for the process of photosynthesis.

What is the composition of a plant cell wall?

The cell wall of a plant is made up of cellulose. Cellulose is a long, linear polymer of several glucose molecules.

Where does photosynthesis occur in plant cells?

Photosynthesis occurs inside the chloroplast of the plant cells. Chloroplast consists of a green pigment called
chlorophyll. The light reactions occur within the thylakoids of the chloroplast where the chlorophyll pigment is found.

Source: https://byjus.com/biology/plant-cell/
 Animal Cell
We are aware of the fact that the cell is the structural and fundamental unit of life. It is also the smallest and the most
basic biological unit of living organisms. On the basis of the cellular organization, cells are further classified as eukaryotic
and prokaryotic. Plant cells and animal cells fall under the eukaryotic category.

Table of Contents

 Definition

 Explanation

 Diagram

 Structure

 Types

 Conclusion

Let us have a detailed overview of the animal cell, its types, diagram and structure.

Animal Cell Definition

“An animal cell is a type of eukaryotic cell that lacks a cell wall and has a true, membrane-bound nucleus along with
other cellular organelles.”

Explanation

Animal cells range in size from a few microscopic microns to a few millimetres. The largest known animal cell is the
ostrich egg, which can stretch over 5.1 inches across and weighs about 1.4 kilograms. This is in stark contrast to the
neuron in the human body, which is just 100 microns across.

The shape of animal cells also varies, with some being flat, others oval or rod-shaped. There are also more intriguing
shapes such as curved, spherical, concave and rectangular. Most of the cells are microscopic in size and can only be seen
under the microscope.

As stated before, animal cells are eukaryotic cells with a membrane-bound nucleus. Furthermore, these cells exhibit the
presence of DNA inside the nucleus. They also comprise other membrane-bound organelles and cellular structures
which carry out specific functions necessary for a cell to function properly.

Animal Cell Diagram

The diagram given below depicts the structural organization of the animal cell. The various cell organelles present in an
animal cell are clearly marked in the animal cell diagram provided below.
Animal cell diagram detailing the various organelles

Though this animal cell diagram is not representative of any one particular type of cell, it provides insight into the
primary organelles and the intricate internal structure of most animal cells. Furthermore, it is easy to distinguish
between a plant and animal cell diagram just by inspecting the presence or absence of a cell wall.

Animal Cell Structure

Animal cells are generally smaller than plant cells. Another defining characteristic is its irregular shape. This is due to the
absence of a cell wall. But animal cells share other cellular organelles with plant cells as both have evolved from
eukaryotic cells.

A typical animal cell comprises the following cell organelles:

Cell Membrane

A thin semipermeable membrane layer of lipids and proteins surrounding the cell. Its primary role is to protect the cell
from its surrounding. Also, it controls the entry and exit of nutrients and other microscopic entities into the cell. For this
reason, cell membranes are known as semi-permeable or selectively permeable membranes.

Nucleus

It is an organelle that contains several other sub-organelles such as nucleolus, nucleosomes and chromatins. It also
contains DNA and other genetic materials.

Nuclear Membrane

It is a double-membrane structure that surrounds the nucleus. It is also referred to as the nuclear envelope.

Centrosome

It is a small organelle found near the nucleus, which has a thick centre with radiating tubules. The centrosomes are
where microtubules are produced.

Lysosome

They are round organelles surrounded by a membrane and comprising digestive enzymes which help in digestion,
excretion and in the cell renewal process.

Cytoplasm

A jelly-like material which contains all the cell organelles, enclosed within the cell membrane. The substance found
within the cell nucleus, contained by the nuclear membrane is called the nucleoplasm.

Golgi Apparatus

A flat, smooth layered, sac-like organelle which is located near the nucleus and involved in manufacturing, storing,
packing and transporting the particles throughout the cell.
Detailed Reading: Golgi Apparatus

Mitochondrion

They are spherical or rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. They are the powerhouse of a cell as they play an
important role in releasing energy.

Ribosome

They are small organelles made up of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules, and they are the sites of protein synthesis.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

This cellular organelle is composed of a thin, winding network of membranous sacs originating from the nucleus.

Vacuole

A membrane-bound organelle present inside a cell involved in maintaining shape and storing water, food, wastes, etc.

Nucleopore

They are tiny holes present in the nuclear membrane which are involved in the movement of nucleic acids and proteins
across the nuclear membrane.

Animal Cell Types

There are numerous types of animal cells, each designed to serve specific functions. The most common types of animal
cells are:

Skin Cells
Melanocytes, keratinocytes, Merkel cells and Leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelet
Langerhans cells Nerve Cells
Muscle Cells Schwann cell, glial cells etc
Myocyte, Myosatellite cells, Tendon cells, Cardiac Fat Cells
muscle cells Adipocytes
Blood Cells
Points to Note About Animal Cell
The cell is the structural and functional unit of life. These cells differ in their shapes, sizes and their structure as they
have to fulfil specific functions. Plant cells and animal cells share some common features as both are eukaryotic cells.
However, they differ as animals need to adapt to a more active and non-sedentary lifestyle. Furthermore, animals need
to acquire their own food, therefore, they do not possess any of the specialized cell organelles such as chloroplasts.
 Bacteria Cell Structure
They are as unrelated to human beings as living things can be, but bacteria are essential to human life and life on planet
Earth. Although they are notorious for their role in causing human diseases, from tooth decay to the Black Plague, there
are beneficial species that are essential to good health.
For example, one species that lives symbiotically in the large intestine manufactures vitamin K, an essential blood
clotting factor. Other species are beneficial indirectly. Bacteria give yogurt its tangy flavor and sourdough bread its sour
taste. They make it possible for ruminant animals (cows, sheep, goats) to digest plant cellulose and for some plants,
(soybean, peas, alfalfa) to convert nitrogen to a more usable form.

Bacteria are prokaryotes, lacking well-defined nuclei and membrane-bound organelles, and with chromosomes
composed of a single closed DNA circle. They come in many shapes and sizes, from minute spheres, cylinders and spiral
threads, to flagellated rods, and filamentous chains. They are found practically everywhere on Earth and live in some of
the most unusual and seemingly inhospitable places.

Evidence shows that bacteria were in existence as long as 3.5 billion years ago, making them one of the oldest living
organisms on the Earth. Even older than the bacteria are the archeans (also called archaebacteria) tiny prokaryotic
organisms that live only in extreme environments: boiling water, super-salty pools, sulfur-spewing volcanic vents, acidic
water, and deep in the Antarctic ice. Many scientists now believe that the archaea and bacteria developed separately
from a common ancestor nearly four billion years ago. Millions of years later, the ancestors of today's eukaryotes split
off from the archaea. Despite the superficial resemblance to bacteria, biochemically and genetically, the archea are as
different from bacteria as bacteria are from humans.

In the late 1600s, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek became the first to study bacteria under the microscope. During the
nineteenth century, the French scientist Louis Pasteur and the German physician Robert Koch demonstrated the role of
bacteria as pathogens (causing disease). The twentieth century saw numerous advances in bacteriology, indicating their
diversity, ancient lineage, and general importance. Most notably, a number of scientists around the world made
contributions to the field of microbial ecology, showing that bacteria were essential to food webs and for the overall
health of the Earth's ecosystems. The discovery that some bacteria produced compounds lethal to other bacteria led to
the development of antibiotics, which revolutionized the field of medicine.

There are two different ways of grouping bacteria. They can be divided into three types based on their response to
gaseous oxygen. Aerobic bacteria require oxygen for their health and existence and will die without it. Anerobic bacteria
can't tolerate gaseous oxygen at all and die when exposed to it. Facultative aneraobes prefer oxygen, but can live
without it.

The second way of grouping them is by how they obtain their energy. Bacteria that have to consume and break down
complex organic compounds are heterotrophs. This includes species that are found in decaying material as well as those
that utilize fermentation or respiration. Bacteria that create their own energy, fueled by light or through chemical
reactions, are autotrophs.

 Capsule - Some species of bacteria have a third protective covering, a capsule made up of polysaccharides
(complex carbohydrates). Capsules play a number of roles, but the most important are to keep the bacterium
from drying out and to protect it from phagocytosis (engulfing) by larger microorganisms. The capsule is a major
 virulence factor in the major disease-causing bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Nonencapsulated mutants of these organisms are avirulent, i.e. they don't cause disease.

 Cell Envelope - The cell envelope is made up of two to three layers: the interior cytoplasmic membrane, the cell
wall, and -- in some species of bacteria -- an outer capsule.

 Cell Wall - Each bacterium is enclosed by a rigid cell wall composed of peptidoglycan, a protein-sugar
(polysaccharide) molecule. The wall gives the cell its shape and surrounds the cytoplasmic membrane,
protecting it from the environment. It also helps to anchor appendages like the pili and flagella, which originate
in the cytoplasm membrane and protrude through the wall to the outside. The strength of the wall is
responsible for keeping the cell from bursting when there are large differences in osmotic pressure between the
cytoplasm and the environment.

Cell wall composition varies widely amongst bacteria and is one of the most important factors in bacterial species
analysis and differentiation. For example, a relatively thick, meshlike structure that makes it possible to distinguish two
basic types of bacteria. A technique devised by Danish physician Hans Christian Gram in 1884, uses a staining and
washing technique to differentiate between the two forms. When exposed to a gram stain, gram-positive bacteria retain
the purple color of the stain because the structure of their cell walls traps the dye. In gram-negative bacteria, the cell
wall is thin and releases the dye readily when washed with an alcohol or acetone solution.

 Cytoplasm - The cytoplasm, or protoplasm, of bacterial cells is where the functions for cell growth, metabolism,
and replication are carried out. It is a gel-like matrix composed of water, enzymes, nutrients, wastes, and gases
and contains cell structures such as ribosomes, a chromosome, and plasmids. The cell envelope encases the
cytoplasm and all its components. Unlike the eukaryotic (true) cells, bacteria do not have a membrane enclosed
nucleus. The chromosome, a single, continuous strand of DNA, is localized, but not contained, in a region of the
cell called the nucleoid. All the other cellular components are scattered throughout the cytoplasm.

One of those components, plasmids, are small, extrachromosomal genetic structures carried by many strains of bacteria.
Like the chromosome, plasmids are made of a circular piece of DNA. Unlike the chromosome, they are not involved in
reproduction. Only the chromosome has the genetic instructions for initiating and carrying out cell division, or binary
fission, the primary means of reproduction in bacteria. Plasmids replicate independently of the chromosome and, while
not essential for survival, appear to give bacteria a selective advantage.

Plasmids are passed on to other bacteria through two means. For most plasmid types, copies in the cytoplasm are
passed on to daughter cells during binary fission. Other types of plasmids, however, form a tubelike structure at the
surface called a pilus that passes copies of the plasmid to other bacteria during conjugation, a process by which bacteria
exchange genetic information. Plasmids have been shown to be instrumental in the transmission of special properties,
such as antibiotic drug resistance, resistance to heavy metals, and virulence factors necessary for infection of animal or
plant hosts. The ability to insert specific genes into plasmids have made them extremely useful tools in the fields of
molecular biology and genetics, specifically in the area of genetic engineering.

 Cytoplasmic Membrane - A layer of phospholipids and proteins, called the cytoplasmic membrane, encloses the
interior of the bacterium, regulating the flow of materials in and out of the cell. This is a structural trait bacteria
share with all other living cells; a barrier that allows them to selectively interact with their environment.
Membranes are highly organized and asymmetric having two sides, each side with a different surface and
different functions. Membranes are also dynamic, constantly adapting to different conditions.

 Flagella - Flagella (singular, flagellum) are hairlike structures that provide a means of locomotion for those
bacteria that have them. They can be found at either or both ends of a bacterium or all over its surface. The
flagella beat in a propeller-like motion to help the bacterium move toward nutrients; away from toxic chemicals;
or, in the case of the photosynthetic cyanobacteria; toward the light.

 Nucleoid - The nucleoid is a region of cytoplasm where the chromosomal DNA is located. It is not a membrane
bound nucleus, but simply an area of the cytoplasm where the strands of DNA are found. Most bacteria have a
single, circular chromosome that is responsible for replication, although a few species do have two or more.
Smaller circular auxiliary DNA strands, called plasmids, are also found in the cytoplasm.

 Pili - Many species of bacteria have pili (singular, pilus), small hairlike projections emerging from the outside cell
surface. These outgrowths assist the bacteria in attaching to other cells and surfaces, such as teeth, intestines,
and rocks. Without pili, many disease-causing bacteria lose their ability to infect because they're unable to
attach to host tissue. Specialized pili are used for conjugation, during which two bacteria exchange fragments of
plasmid DNA.
  Ribosomes - Ribosomes are microscopic "factories" found in all cells, including bacteria. They translate the
genetic code from the molecular language of nucleic acid to that of amino acids—the building blocks of proteins.
Proteins are the molecules that perform all the functions of cells and living organisms. Bacterial ribosomes are
similar to those of eukaryotes, but are smaller and have a slightly different composition and molecular structure.
Bacterial ribosomes are never bound to other organelles as they sometimes are (bound to the endoplasmic
reticulum) in eukaryotes, but are free-standing structures distributed throughout the cytoplasm. There are
sufficient differences between bacterial ribosomes and eukaryotic ribosomes that some antibiotics will inhibit
the functioning of bacterial ribosomes, but not a eukaryote's, thus killing bacteria but not the eukaryotic
organisms they are infecting.

Source: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/bacteriacell.html

Department of Education
Region X-Northern Mindanao
Division of Bukidnon
MIARAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Miaray, Dangcagan, Bukidnon
School Year 2022-2023
Group Name/Group Number:____________________________________ Date: ___________________
Grade and Section: ____________________________________________ Subject:_________________
Name of Group Members:
RUBRIC FOR GROUP REPORTING

Criteria Points
Organization (25 points)

Delivery (25 points)

Content Knowledge (35 points)

Creativity (15 points)

Total

Evaluator: VIVIANE O. BAYLON

General Biology 1 Teacher

Department of Education
Region X-Northern Mindanao
Division of Bukidnon
MIARAY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Miaray, Dangcagan, Bukidnon
School Year 2022-2023

Group Name/Group Number:____________________________________ Date: ___________________

Grade and Section: ____________________________________________ Subject:_________________
Name of Group Members:
RUBRIC FOR GROUP REPORTING

Criteria Points
Organization (25 points)

Delivery (25 points)

Content Knowledge (35 points)

Creativity (15 points)

Total

Evaluator: VIVIANE O. BAYLON

General Biology 1 Teacher