What is an Animal Cell?

BY Team Aakash Byju's

An animal cell is a eukaryotic cell surrounded by a plasma membrane, having a true nucleus and other cell organelles.

Animal cell

Generally, animal cells are round or irregular in shape. They are smaller than plant cells.

Animal cells consist of distinct membrane-enclosed structures known as cell organelles. These cell organelles include:

Animal cells are enclosed by plasma membranes. It provides protection and shape to the cell. It involves ionic balance within the cell.

Plasma Membrane

It is covered by a nuclear membrane. It controls all functions of the cell, determines organisms' characteristics, and involves cell division. 

Nucleus

It performs cellular respiration and generates energy. Hence it is known as a powerhouse of the cell. 

Mitochondria

These are fluids filled vesicles and sac-like structures. They pack various substances before transportation. 

Golgi apparatus

It is a fine network of membranes. Rough ER synthesis proteins and smooth ER synthesis lipids.

Ribosomes These are small spherical structures present in the cytoplasm and attached to ER. They prepare proteins.

These cell organelles are present only in an animal cell. These are the structures that organize spindle fibres during mitosis.

Centrosomes

Lysosomes These are the structures present only in an animal cell. The materials that need to be destroyed are sent here. Enzymes present in lysosomes digest these substances.