📖 Notes LESSON 03 OF 16

Plant Cell — Extra Organelles

⏱️ 22 min

🔬 Cell Biology

Plant vs Animal Cell

Plant cells have everything animal cells have PLUS 3 extra structures. Know the differences for MDCAT.

Plant-Only Structures

Chloroplast, Cell Wall, Vacuole

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Chloroplast

Site of photosynthesis. Double membrane + thylakoids + stroma. Has its own DNA.

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Cell Wall

Cellulose (primary) + lignin (secondary). Provides support, shape, and protection.

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Central Vacuole

Up to 90% of plant cell volume. Maintains turgor pressure and storage.

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Plasmodesmata

Channels connecting adjacent plant cells through the cell wall.

Organelle Comparison

Animal vs Plant Cell

REFERENCE

Organelle          Animal   Plant
Nucleus            YES      YES
Mitochondria       YES      YES
Ribosomes          YES      YES
ER (rough+smooth)  YES      YES
Golgi apparatus    YES      YES
Lysosomes          YES      rare
Centrioles         YES      NO
Cell wall          NO       YES (cellulose)
Chloroplasts       NO       YES
Large vacuole      NO       YES
Plasmodesmata      NO       YES

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Mnemonic: "Plasty Cells Violently Wail"

Plastids, Cell wall, Vacuole (large), Wall — the four plant-exclusive structures MDCAT tests most.

← Lesson 2: Animal Cell Organelles Lesson 4: Cell Membrane & Transport →