Eukaryotic Organelles
Uploaded by Admin on Jan 22, 1999
The mitochondria has an eggshape structure. The mitochondria consists of an inner and outer membrane. The outer membrane is what shapes the organelle to its egglike shape. The inner membrane which folds inward makes a set of "shelves" or cristae that allow the reactions of the mitochondria to take place. The more the mitochondria makes these reactions the more the inner membrane folds. This happens because the mitochondria now has more surface area connecting it to its surroundings. The processes that the mitochondria make are to break down the high energy organic molecules into smaller more useful packages.
The endoplasmic reticulum is a network of tubes and channels that transport and with the help of ribosomes produce proteins. The rough endoplasmic reticulum contains ribosomes which are not present in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The rough endoplasmic reticulum allows the cell to produce proteins. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum is used in the detoxification processes in the cell and the transitional endoplasmic reticulum is used to breakdown glycogen to glucose. The endoplasmic reticulum is versatile and grows and shrinks according to the cell's activities.
Chloroplasts which are found in plant cells are used in the process of photosynthesis. They fall into the category of plastids but they are differentiated in that they contain chlorophyll. These organelles produce chemical reactions from the energy that the sun gives them. The Golgi complex's structure is made up of many flattened membranes sacs that are surrounded by tubules or vesicles. These are called the cisternae. The golgi complex accepts vesicles from the endoplasmic reticulum and modifies them for usage in the cell. The golgi complex is used to distribute materials which help form the cell membranes. They also assemble the membranous material by producing glycolipids and glycoproteins. The golgi complexes also hand their vesicles materials for secretion. The golgi complex could not do its job without the help of vesicles. Vesicles bring and send the organelle its materials.