Final answer:
Vacuoles in plant cells maintain structural integrity, store nutrients, and manage waste. Lysosomes contain digestive enzymes to dispose of waste and initiate apoptosis. The mitochondrion generates ATP and the cell membrane regulates substance entry and exit.
Step-by-step explanation:
Functions of Cellular Organelles
The detailed functions of cellular organelles are crucial to understanding how cells operate. In eukaryotic cells, such as those of plants and animals, specific organelles carry out distinct roles to maintain cellular homeostasis and contribute to the cell's overall functionality.
Vacuoles
Vacuoles are membrane-bound organelles primarily found in plant and fungal cells, though they can also be present in animal and protist cells. In plant cells, vacuoles serve several functions, notably creating internal hydrostatic pressure, or turgor, which is critical for maintaining the plant's structural integrity. They also store nutrients, waste products, and contribute to the degradation of complex molecules.
Lysosomes
Lysosomes are cellular organelles that contain digestive enzymes. They digest excess or worn-out organelles, food particles, and engulfed viruses or bacteria. Lysosomes are the cell's waste disposal system and can also initiate the process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis.
Mitochondrion
The mitochondrion is the powerhouse of the cell, a term describing its role in generating the majority of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy. Mitochondria also play a key role in apoptosis and have their own DNA, which suggests they originated from a symbiotic relationship between primitive eukaryotic cells and a prokaryote.
Cell Membrane
The cell membrane, or plasma membrane, is the biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of the cell from the external environment. Its selective permeability regulates the entry and exit of substances, thus maintaining the necessary balance of nutrients, ions, and water inside the cell.