plant cells
This rigid, protective outer layer gives a plant cell its rectangular shape and keeps it standing tall.
What is the Cell Wall
This green, slimy organism floats on ponds and has cell walls and chloroplasts, but it isn't a true plant
What is Algae
Unlike plants, animal cells lack a rigid cell wall, leaving this flexible outer boundary as their only protective barrier.
What is the Cell Membrane
Acting like the cell's garbage disposal or recycling center, these sacs contain digestive enzymes to break down waste and old cell parts
What are Lysosomes
If you look through a microscope and see a rigid, green, rectangular-shaped cell, you are definitely looking at this type of cell.
What is a Plant Cell?
These green, solar-powered factories absorb sunlight to make food for the plant.
What are Chloroplasts
Mushrooms belong to this kingdom; their cells have a tough outer wall but completely lack chloroplasts.
What is Fungi
Often called the "powerhouse" of the cell, this organelle generates most of the chemical energy the animal needs to move around
What is the Mitochondrion
These tiny, numerous dots act like factory workers to assemble proteins based on instructions from the nucleus.
What are Ribosomes
This flexible outer boundary is found in both cell types, but it is the only outer layer protecting an animal cell.
What is the Cell Membrane
This massive, central storage tank holds water; when it is empty, the plant wilts.
What is the Central Vacuole
Unlike animal cells, plant cells do not contain these barrel-shaped organelles to help them divide during mitosis
What are Centrioles
This large central organelle acts as the command center, housing the animal's DNA and instructing the cell on what to do
What is the Nucleus
This maze-like highway system can be "rough" or "smooth" and helps transport proteins and lipids throughout the cell.
What is the Endoplasmic Reticulum
Plant cells have one massive "central" version of this storage tank, while animal cells have multiple tiny ones
What is a Vacuole
This clear, jelly-like fluid fills the rest of the cell and keeps all the other parts floating in place.
What is Cytoplasm
Found in underground roots, these colorless structures don't absorb light; instead, they store massive amounts of starch
What are Amyloplasts
While plants have one massive central tank, animal cells feature several of these much smaller, temporary storage sacs for food and water
What are Vacuoles?
Acting like the cell's post office, this organelle customizes, packages, and ships out proteins to where they need to go.
What is the Golgi Body
This organelle works like a garbage disposal in animal cells to break down waste, but its job is usually handled by the vacuole in plants
What is a Lysosome
These microscopic tunnels pierce right through the cell walls so neighboring plant cells can talk to each other.
What are Plasmodesmata?
This is the specific name of the active membrane that wraps around the giant central vacuole.
What is the Tonoplast
Animal cells use these specialized, barrel-shaped structures to help organize and pull chromosomes apart when the cell divides.
What are Centrioles
These small microbodies break down dangerous toxins and hydrogen peroxide to keep the animal cell safe from poison.
What are Peroxisomes
While animal cells use centrioles to help them divide during mitosis, plant cells lack these and use a structure called a cell plate instead.
What are Centrioles and Cell Plates