Cellular Structures and Organelles During Interphase

When a cell is not in a state of division and is in the phase known as interphase, its nucleus is more or less spherical and located in the center or near the periphery. During the interphase, we can distinguish the following structures:

• Nuclear membrane: This is a covering formed by two membranes covered in ribosomes. The membranes have perforations called nuclear pores, which allow substances to be exchanged between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
• Nucleoplasm: This is the liquid in the nucleus.
• Nucleolus: This is a rounded structure that is darker than the rest of the nucleus. It is where the components of the ribosomes are created.
• Chromatin: This is made up of DNA filaments and proteins. During cell division, it condenses and forms chromosomes. There will be as many chromatin filaments as chromosomes the cell has during its division phase.

Key Organelles and Their Functions

1. Mitochondria: Cellular respiration takes place in the mitochondria. This process burns nutrients in the presence of oxygen to obtain energy and release CO2.
2. Ribosomes: Ribosomes manufacture a cell's proteins.
3. Golgi apparatus: The Golgi apparatus collects substances and uses vesicles to transport them to different parts of the cell or outside it.
4. Endoplasmic reticulum: The rough endoplasmic reticulum creates proteins via the ribosomes that are joined to its membrane, and it stores them or transports them to the Golgi apparatus.
5. Lysosomes and other vesicles: Lysosomes perform cellular digestion; in other words, they decompose substances to obtain other useful substances that provide nutrition for the cell. Other vesicles related to Golgi apparatus activity have different functions, such as storing substances or transporting them.
6. Chloroplasts: Photosynthesis takes place inside them.
7. Large Vacuoles: The liquid in the vacuoles exerts pressure inside the cell. This pressure is needed to maintain the cell's rigidity.
8. Cell wall: The cell wall protects the cell and provides rigidity.
9. Centrioles: They direct the separation of the chromosomes during cellular reproduction. They are involved in the formation of structures that produce cell movement, such as cilia or flagella.
10. Cilia and flagella: They allow the cell to move in a liquid environment or to move liquid and particles over its surface.