Cell
Animal Cell
A typical eukaryotic animal cell, with nucleus, mitochondria, and surrounding plasma membrane.
Standard cell atlas
Explore the architecture of life.
Curated cell guides for studying structure, function, and the relationships between them.
- Cell guides
- 30
- Categories
- 8
- Curricula
- 5
Atlas index
All 30 cells
Educational references · not diagnostic
Curriculum
Biological category
Cell
Plant Cell
Eukaryotic plant cell with cell wall, chloroplasts, central vacuole, and plasmodesmata.
Cell
Bacterium
Prokaryotic single-celled organism with cell wall, plasma membrane, ribosomes, nucleoid, and optional flagella.
Cell
Fungal Cell
Eukaryotic fungal cell with a chitinous cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, and vacuole; lacks chloroplasts.
Cell
Stem Cell
Undifferentiated pluripotent cell with a prominent nucleus and a high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio.
Organelle
Mitochondrion
The cell's powerhouse — produces ATP via the electron transport chain across its inner membrane.
Organelle
Nucleus
The cell's control center — houses DNA inside a double membrane studded with nuclear pores.
Organelle
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Network of membrane sacs (cisternae); rough ER is studded with ribosomes for protein synthesis.
Organelle
Golgi Apparatus
Stack of flattened cisternae that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins into vesicles.
Organelle
Ribosome
Two-subunit molecular machine that translates mRNA into protein.
Organelle
Chloroplast
Plant organelle that performs photosynthesis using thylakoid stacks (grana) and a stroma.
Organelle
Lysosome
Membrane-bound organelle filled with hydrolytic enzymes that digest cellular debris.
Organelle
Peroxisome
Small organelle with a crystalline core of oxidase enzymes that break down fatty acids and detoxify hydrogen peroxide.
Organelle
Vacuole
Large fluid-filled compartment bounded by the tonoplast; stores water, ions, and pigments in plant cells.
Organelle
Cytoskeleton
3D protein network of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules that shapes and supports the cell.
Organelle
Centriole
Cylindrical organelle made of nine microtubule triplets; organizes the mitotic spindle during cell division.
Organelle
Cell Membrane
Phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins and cholesterol that controls what enters and leaves the cell.
Blood
Red Blood Cell
Biconcave disc-shaped cell that carries oxygen via hemoglobin; lacks a nucleus in mammals.
Blood
Lymphocyte
White blood cell (B or T) with a very large nucleus that drives adaptive immune responses.
Blood
Neutrophil
Granular white blood cell with a multilobed nucleus; first responder that phagocytoses bacteria.
Blood
Platelet
Small anucleate cell fragment that aggregates at vessel injuries to initiate blood clotting.
Blood
Macrophage
Large phagocytic immune cell that engulfs pathogens and debris using extensive pseudopodia.
Neural
Neuron
Specialized cell that transmits electrochemical signals. Has dendrites, cell body, and axon.
Neural
Myelinated Axon
Axon wrapped in myelin sheath segments separated by Nodes of Ranvier, enabling saltatory conduction.
Muscle
Skeletal Muscle Fiber
Long multinucleated muscle cell with striations from repeating sarcomeres along its myofibrils.
Muscle
Cardiac Muscle Cell
Branched striated cardiomyocyte with a single central nucleus and intercalated discs at cell junctions.
Epithelial
Squamous Epithelial Cell
Thin, flat fish-scale–shaped cell with a flattened central nucleus; lines surfaces for diffusion.
Epithelial
Columnar Epithelial Cell
Tall column-shaped epithelial cell with a basal nucleus and apical microvilli for absorption.
Connective
Adipocyte
Fat-storing cell almost entirely filled by a single lipid droplet, pushing the nucleus to the edge.
Reproductive
Sperm Cell
Motile haploid male gamete with an acrosome-capped head, mitochondria-rich midpiece, and flagellar tail.