Animal Cell
Biochemistry & Cell Biology > Cell Structure
Animal cells are eukaryotic cells that contain various membrane-bound organelles. Animal cells are eukaryotic cells that contain various membrane–bound organelles.

An animal cell is a form of eukaryotic cell that makes up many tissues in animals.

The animal cell is distinct from other eukaryotes, most notably plant cells, as they lack cell walls and chloroplasts. They also have smaller vacuoles. Due to the lack of a rigid cell wall, animal cells can adopt a variety of shapes.

Plasma membrane separates the cell from outside and inside environment. Plasma membrane separates the cell from outside and inside environment. Plasma membrane is a very thin membrane, composed of lipids and protein, that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell and controls the passage of substances into and out of the cell.

The plasma membrane/cell membrane is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment. The cell membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and controls the movement of substances in and out of cells.

The basic function of the cell membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings. It consists of the lipid bilayer with embedded proteins. Cell membranes are involved in a variety of cellular processes such as cell adhesion, ion conductivity and cell signaling and serve as the attachment surface for several extracellular structures, including the cell wall, glycocalyx, and intracellular cytoskeleton.

The cells of all animals, man, the majority of microorganisms, fungi are heterotrophs. An organism that cannot synthesize its own food and is dependent on complex organic substances for nutrition. This contrasts with autotrophs, such as plants and algae, which can use energy from sunlight (photoautotrophs) or inorganic compounds (lithoautotrophs) to produce organic compounds such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from inorganic carbon dioxide. These reduced carbon compounds can be used as an energy source by the autotroph and provide the energy in food consumed by heterotrophs.

Thus, Animal cells are eukaryotic cells, or cells with a membrane-bound nucleus. Unlike prokaryotic cells, DNA in animal cells is housed within the nucleus. In addition to having a nucleus, animal cells also contain other membrane–bound organelles, or tiny cellular structures, that carry out specific functions necessary for normal cellular operation. Organelles have a wide range of responsibilities that include everything from producing hormones and enzymes to providing energy for animal cells.

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