Animal Cell Structure
Laura Armstrong & Joe Wolfensohn
Teachers
Recall Questions
This topic requires prior knowledge of cells from key stage 3. You can test your knowledge on this below.
All living things are made of ____?
Cells
State what is meant by the term multicellular.
An organism made of multiple cells.
Topic Explainer Video
Check out this @JoeDoesBiology video that explains animal cell structure or read the full notes below. Once you've gone through the whole note, try out the practice questions!
Animal Cell Structure
Animal cells are eukaryotic cells – they have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Key sub-cellular structures include:
Nucleus
-
Contains DNA, arranged in chromosomes.
-
Controls cell activities.
Cytoplasm
-
Jelly-like fluid where most chemical reactions occur.
-
Contains enzymes to control reactions.
Cell Membrane
-
Controls the movement of substances in and out of a cell.
-
Partially permeable – allows selective substances to pass through e.g. glucose and oxygen.
Mitochondria
-
Site of aerobic respiration.
-
Releases energy for cellular processes.
Ribosomes
-
Site of protein synthesis.
- Found in the cytoplasm.
Diagram of Animal Cell
Key Terms
- Organelle – a specialised structure within a cell.
- Eukaryotic cell – cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
No answer provided.
Exam Tip
Always think about the functions of these organelles and how to apply that to different questions.
No answer provided.
Practice Question
Explain why a muscle cell has many mitochondria. (2 marks)
-
Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration
-
Releasing energy for muscle contraction
More Practice
Try to answer the practice questions from the TikTok videos on your own, then watch the videos to see how well you did!