What Is An Animal Cell?

The cells of animals are advanced and complex. Along with plants and fungi, the cells of animals are eukaryotic. Eukaryotic cells are relatively large cells with a nucleus and specialized structures called organelles. Although animal cells can vary considerably depending on their purpose, there are some general characteristics that are common to all cells. These include structures such as the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, and ribosomes.

• Animal cells are typically large, specialized eukaryotic cells – they contain a nucleus and numerous organelles
• The plasma membrane surrounds an animal cell
• Almost all of a cell’s DNA is kept inside its nucleus
• Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a network of membranes connected to the nucleus – it includes the smooth ER and the rough ER
• Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria
• Ribosomes produce proteins – they can be found in the endoplasmic reticulum or freely floating
• Animal cells have lysosomes for digestion, centrosomes to help with cell division and sometimes flagella to help with movement – none of these three organelles are found in plant cells
• The cells of animals lack cell walls, chloroplasts and vacuoles which are all found in plant cells

• Different types of specialized cells are found in different tissues and have features relative to their function e.g. nerve cells have axons and dendrites to send and receive messages.

Tomado de :http://basicbiology.net/micro/cells/animal-cells/