Cell - Overview

Description:

Animal cells have an outer membrane called the cell membrane while in case of plant cells the outer most layer is the cell wall.

Each cell has a dense membrane bound structure called nucleus. Nucleus contains the genetic material DNA. Cells that have membrane bound nuclei are called eukaryotic cells while the cells that do not have a membrane bound nucleus are called prokaryotic cells. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells have a semi fluid matrix called cytoplasm.

The eukaryotic cells have other membrane bound structures called organelles like ER, golgi complex, lysosomes, mitochondria, microbodies and vacuoles.

Ribosomes are non-membrane bound organelles found in all cells.

Centrioles are also non-membrane bound organelles which are found in the animal cells.

The smallest cells are mycoplasma whereas the largest cell is the egg of an ostrich. Nerve cells are longest cells.