How to Draw an Animal Cell

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Cells are one of the most basic building blocks of life. Whether single-celled or multi-celled, all organisms have them. Animal cells differ from plant cells in several regards though, including the lack of vacuoles, chloroplasts, and cell walls. By knowing what organelles animal cells have and their general shapes, you can easily draw an animal cell.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Drawing the Cell Membrane and Nucleus

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    The cell membrane of an animal cell is not a perfect circle. You can make the circle misshapen or oblong. The important part is that it does not have any sharp edges. [1] Also know that the membrane is not a rigid cell wall like in plant cells. Cell membranes do allow molecules to pass in and out of animal cells.
    • Make the circle large enough to decipher all the organelles you draw inside.
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    Detailed animal cell models may also include a pinocytic vesicle on the cell membrane. This will appear as a small bulbous shape. It should push into the outer circle of the cell membrane without breaking it. [2]
    • In pinocytosis the cell membrane wraps around extracellular fluids (those outside the cell). It then pulls the fluid into the cell for digestion or absorption. [3] This is why you draw the vesicle as a bulbous shape that the membrane has wrapped around.
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    The nucleus is one of the larger structures of the cell. Form the nucleus by drawing two circles—a larger circle that takes up around 10% of the cell with a slightly smaller circle inside it. [4]
    • The nucleus of an animal cell has pores in it called nuclear pores. [5] To represent these pores, erase three or four small sections of each circle. Then connect the outer lines to the inner lines. The finished product will resemble curved cylinders that don't quite touch. [6]
    • This outer shell of the nuclear membrane is also called the nuclear envelope. [7] To make a highly detailed cell model, put several dots on the outside of the nuclear membrane to represent ribosomes that attach to the membrane. [8]
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    The nucleolus is at the center of the nucleus and makes ribosomal sub-units that combine elsewhere in the cell. [9] [10] Represent the nucleolus with a small shaded circle. [11]
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    Most of the rest of the nucleus interior should appear as one big squiggle. [12] This squiggle represents the chromatin material such as DNA and proteins. [13] [14]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Drawing the Other Cell Organelles

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    The mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell. Draw them by making two or three large, rod-shaped ovals in the cell but outside the nucleus. [15] Each mitochondrion (singular) should contain an enclosed shape with many ridges and switchback lines. [16] This shape represents the mitochondrial cristae or inner folds of the organelle's membrane that provide more surface area to carry out processes. [17] [18]
    • Leave a gap between the oval of the outer membrane and the inner membrane. [19]
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    Starting at one edge of the nuclear membrane, draw a large shape that extends out of the membrane with several finger-like shapes pointing to each side before reconnecting to the nucleus. [20] This entire shape is the endoplasmic reticulum. The shape should be fairly large because the endoplasmic reticulum can take up as much as 10% of the volume of the entire cell. [21]
    • Animal cells have both a smooth and a rough endoplasmic reticulum. To make the rough endoplasmic reticulum, place dots on the outside edge of the finger-like shapes on one side of the endoplasmic reticulum. These dots represent ribosomes. [22]
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    To make the Golgi body (or Golgi apparatus), draw a set of three dumbbell-type shapes that are cylindrical at the center and bulbous at the ends. [23] Each dumbbell should successively increase in size as they get farther from the nucleus and closer to the cell membrane. [24]
    • The Golgi body packages and sends complex molecules around and out of the cell. It does this via vesicles that you can represent around the Golgi body with a few small circles. [25] [26]
    • Capitalize Golgi since it is the name of the discovering biologist.
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    Centrioles help assist with cell division. They are close to but separate from the nucleus. [27] [28] Form the centrioles by drawing two small rectangles perpendicular to each other near the nucleus. [29]
    • The centrioles are paired organelles, which is why you draw two of the rectangles together. [30]
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    The lysosome is like the scrapyard of the cell that breaks down unneeded material to reuse. [31] [32] Represent the lysosome with a small circle at the edge of the cell. Add many small dots in the lysosome to show the digestive enzymes inside, which is called a hydrolytic enzyme mixture. [33] [34]
    • You can place the lysosome near the Golgi apparatus since the organelles are often budded from the Golgi body. [35]
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    Ribosomes also float around in the cytosol, which is the cellular fluid inside the membrane but outside of all the organelles. Show the extra ribosomes in the cytosol by making several more dots inside the cell. [36]
    • If you have color-coordinated your drawing, make the ribosomes in the cell, attached to the nuclear membrane, and attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum all the same color.
    • Cytosol and cytoplasm are often used interchangeably for the fluid in the cell. [37] Though the fluid in the nucleus is nucleoplasm. [38]
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    How can I label the animal cell?
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    Draw arrows pointing to each part of the cell and on the other side of the arrow write the name of that part.
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    What is a golgi apparatus?
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    A golgi apparatus or golgi complex is a set of membranes bounded in fluid -- filled vesicles, vacoules and flattened cristernae (closed sacs). It exists near the nucleus in animal cells.
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    What is meant by tissue?
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    Any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made, consisting of specialized cells and their products.
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      Tips

      • Most instructors will make you to label each structure on a test or assignment. Get in the habit of labeling each structure and organelle.
        Thanks
      • If you wish to draw a particular cell such as an amoeba or paramecium, study them first. There are usually some other structures like flagella, cilia, pseudo podium, etc.
        Thanks
      • If you are making a 3D model, then use paper mache to make it.
        Thanks

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • When drawing an animal cell or making a model, make a check list for the parts of the cell so you're sure to label everything correctly.
      • Use a compass to help you draw a perfect circle for the cell.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-an-animal-cell/
      2. ↑ https://byjus.com/biology/diagram-of-animal-cell/
      3. ↑ http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell2_pinocytosis.html
      4. ↑ https://iheartcraftythings.com/animal-cell-drawing.html
      5. ↑ https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-an-animal-cell/
      6. ↑ https://byjus.com/biology/diagram-of-animal-cell/
      7. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9927/
      8. ↑ https://iheartcraftythings.com/animal-cell-drawing.html
      9. ↑ http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-nucleolus-definition-function-quiz.html
      1. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/nucleus/nucleus.html
      2. ↑ https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-an-animal-cell/
      3. ↑ https://byjus.com/biology/diagram-of-animal-cell/
      4. ↑ https://iheartcraftythings.com/animal-cell-drawing.html
      5. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/nucleus/nucleus.html
      6. ↑ https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-draw-an-animal-cell/
      7. ↑ https://byjus.com/biology/diagram-of-animal-cell/
      8. ↑ http://study.com/academy/lesson/mitochondrial-christae-definition-function-quiz.html
      9. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/mitochondria/mitochondria.html
      10. ↑ https://iheartcraftythings.com/animal-cell-drawing.html
      11. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=281
      12. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/endoplasmicreticulum/endoplasmicreticulum.html
      13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=339
      14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=400
      15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=454
      16. ↑ http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_golgi.html
      17. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=462
      18. ↑ http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_centriole.html
      19. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/centrioles/centrioles.html
      20. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=567
      21. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/centrioles/centrioles.html
      22. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=586
      23. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/lysosomes/lysosomes.html
      24. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=605
      25. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/lysosomes/lysosomes.html
      26. ↑ http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/lysosomes/lysosomes.html
      27. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_w5lXgfx0Y&t=624
      28. ↑ http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_cytoplasm.html
      29. ↑ http://www.biology4kids.com/files/cell_cytoplasm.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To draw an animal cell, start by drawing an oval shape for the cell membrane. Next, draw the nucleus by adding a circle inside the membrane with a smaller circle inside it. Then, draw a small shaded circle inside the nucleus to represent the nucleolus. Additionally, make a squiggle across most of the nucleus to indicate chromatin material, like DNA and proteins. For tips on how to draw other cell organelles, including the mitochondria, read on!

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