Final answer:
The spherical structure containing a "cloud" of protein and an inner pair of centrioles near the nucleus in animal cells is the Centrosome. It functions as a microtubule-organizing center and is important for cell division.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spherical structure in the cytoplasm near the nucleus, consisting of a "cloud" of protein and an inner pair of centrioles, is known as the Centrosome.
The centrosome is a crucial part of the cell, acting as a microtubule-organizing center that plays a significant role in the process of cell division and in the maintenance of the cell's internal structure. It contains a pair of centrioles, which are small cylinders arranged perpendicular to each other, with each centriole being a cylinder made up of nine triplets of microtubules. The positioning of these centrioles is crucial for proper cell function during various stages of the cell cycle, particularly during mitosis, where the centrosome duplicates and helps in organizing the cell's chromosomes.