Parts of an animal cell and what they do
| Part | What it does | In plant cells | In animal cells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell membrane | A thin, flexible layer of lipids and proteins around the cell. It controls what goes into and out of the cell. | yes (just inside the cell wall) | yes (the outer edge) |
| Cytoplasm | The jelly-like fluid that fills the cell and holds the organelles in place. Many of the cell’s chemical reactions happen here. | yes | yes |
| Nucleus | The control centre of the cell. It holds the cell’s DNA inside a double membrane called the nuclear envelope and controls growth and cell division. | yes | yes |
| Nucleolus | A dense spot inside the nucleus where the parts of ribosomes are made. | yes | yes |
| Mitochondrion | The powerhouse of the cell. Through cellular respiration it releases energy from food (glucose) and stores it as ATP that the cell can use. | yes | yes |
| Rough endoplasmic reticulum | Folded membranes covered in ribosomes, joined to the nucleus. It makes and folds proteins, which are then sent on to the Golgi apparatus. | yes | yes |
| Smooth endoplasmic reticulum | Tube-like membranes with no ribosomes. It makes lipids (fats), stores calcium and helps break down harmful substances. | yes | yes |
| Golgi apparatus | A stack of flat, curved sacs. It changes, sorts and packs proteins and lipids into small bubbles called vesicles and sends them where they are needed. | yes | yes |
| Lysosome | Small sacs full of digestive enzymes. They break down worn-out cell parts, food particles and bacteria. | rarely (the vacuole does this job) | yes |
| Centrioles | A pair of short tubes made of microtubules, set at right angles near the nucleus. They help organise the fibres that pull chromosomes apart when the cell divides. | no (most plant cells) | yes |
| Vacuole | Small sacs that store water, food or waste. Animal cells have several small vacuoles; a plant cell has one large central vacuole. | one large central vacuole | yes (small) |
| Ribosomes | Tiny structures made of RNA and protein that build proteins. Some float free in the cytoplasm and some sit on the rough ER. | yes | yes |
| Cell wall | A stiff outer layer made mostly of cellulose. It supports and protects the cell, gives it a fixed shape and stops it from bursting when it takes in water. | yes | no |
| Central vacuole | A large sac of water and dissolved substances (cell sap) that can fill most of a plant cell. It stores water and pushes on the cell wall to keep the plant firm. | yes (one large one) | no (only small vacuoles) |
| Chloroplast | Green organelles where photosynthesis happens. Their chlorophyll captures light energy to make sugar from carbon dioxide and water, giving off oxygen. | yes | no |
Plant cell vs animal cell
| Feature | Plant cell | Animal cell |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Fixed, often like a box or brick | Round or irregular, can change shape |
| Cell wall | Yes, made of cellulose | No |
| Cell membrane | Yes, just inside the cell wall | Yes, it is the outer layer |
| Chloroplasts | Yes, for photosynthesis | No |
| Vacuole | One large central vacuole | Several small vacuoles, or none |
| Centrioles | No (in most plant cells) | Yes |
| Lysosomes | Rare | Yes |
| How it gets food | Makes its own sugar by photosynthesis | Takes in food from outside |
| Shared parts | Nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ER, Golgi, ribosomes | Nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ER, Golgi, ribosomes |
Turn the 3D plant cell model next to this one to see the differences in 3D.
Make it for your school project
An animal cell model is round, has no cell wall and shows lysosomes and a pair of centrioles. A foam ball cut open or a bowl of gelatin makes a good round base.
- Pick a base for the cytoplasm: clear gelatin in a bowl, a foam ball cut in half, modelling clay, or a shoebox.
- Make each part in its own colour. The colours in the 3D model above are a good guide, and the parts table lists cheap materials for each one.
- Place the parts where they sit in the model. Turn the model and use the Explode slider to see what is behind what.
- Label every part with a toothpick flag or a numbered key, and add one line saying what it does. Print our labeled diagram as your key, or the blank one to fill in yourself.
Tip: Cut a wedge out of a foam ball, as in this model, so the inside shows.
Materials for each part
- Cell membrane: plastic wrap, a balloon skin or a thin ribbon
- Cytoplasm: clear gelatin, clay or foam
- Nucleus: a ping-pong ball, plum or large bead
- Nucleolus: a small dark bead or marble inside the nucleus
- Mitochondrion: beans, macaroni or red jelly sweets
- Rough ER: folded ribbon or wavy pipe cleaners dotted with seeds
- Smooth ER: smooth yarn or gummy worms
- Golgi apparatus: stacked curved strips of paper or a few stacked pasta shells
- Lysosome: small round sweets or beads
- Centrioles: two short pieces of straw or uncooked pasta tubes
- Vacuole: clear or light blue beads
- Ribosomes: sprinkles, peppercorns or small seeds
Got a 3D printer? Download the STL above. It is a simplified display model, so paint or label the parts after printing.
Make your own 3D model with AI
Need a different model for a project, like a cell in your own style? Describe it with text or upload a picture and AI makes a 3D model. AI can get small details wrong, so check the parts against the table above.
Frequently Asked Questions
An animal cell has a cell membrane, cytoplasm, a nucleus with a nucleolus, mitochondria, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, a Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, a pair of centrioles, ribosomes and small vacuoles. It has no cell wall and no chloroplasts.
Animal cells have no cell wall or chloroplasts, have only small vacuoles, have centrioles and lysosomes, and are round or irregular. Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts and one large central vacuole, and usually a fixed, box-like shape.
Use half a foam ball, a ball of clay or a bowl of gelatin as the cell, then add each organelle in its own colour: a ball for the nucleus, beans for mitochondria, ribbon for the ER, sweets for lysosomes and two straws for the centrioles. Label every part and add a key that says what it does.
Yes. Download the STL file and open it in your slicer. It is a simplified display model, about 9 cm across, with the cytoplasm printed solid and the organelles on its cut faces. It is not to scale, and the tiny ribosomes are left out of the print file.
Yes. The GLB and STL files and the labeled or blank diagram are free and need no account. Everything is made in your browser. You can use them in a school project or presentation.
The mitochondria. They release energy from food through cellular respiration and store it as ATP, which the rest of the cell uses. Plant cells have mitochondria too.