Final answer:
The jelly-like fluid inside cells and organelles is called cytosol, and it is primarily composed of water and various molecules like enzymes. Together with the organelles, it forms the cytoplasm, which is essential for maintaining the cell's shape, participating in metabolic activities, and enabling material transport within the cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The jelly-like fluid inside cells and organelles is known as cytosol. This substance plays a crucial role in the life of a cell, providing a fluid medium necessary for biochemical reactions and holding all organelles. Cytosol itself is composed mostly of water but also includes enzymes, which are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions within the cell, as well as dissolved salts, sugars, amino acids, and other small molecules necessary for the cell's functions. The cytosol and organelles together make up the cell's cytoplasm, which is a thick solution that not only gives the cell its shape but also participates in metabolic activities and facilitates the movement of materials.
The analogy of a cell is often compared to a bag full of Jell-O, indicating the semi-solid nature of the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of a cell is similar to Jell-O that contains mixed fruit, where the fruit represents various structures like a nucleus and other organelles, and the Jell-O represents the cytosol and cytoplasm that suspends these structures.