The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a massive, folded membrane network that looks like crumpled toilet paper. There are two types: the rough ER, which is studded with ribosomes (making it look bumpy, like a Lego brick), and the smooth ER, which is, well, smooth. The rough ER is the cell’s factory, assembling proteins, while the smooth ER makes lipids (fats) and detoxifies poisons. Basically, the rough ER is a stressed-out chef, and the smooth ER is the janitor who also sells drugs on the side.
Animal cell diagram organelles and characteristics – Artofit
Golgi Apparatus: The Shipping Department
The Golgi apparatus looks like a stack of flattened pancakes that someone sat on. It takes proteins from the ER, tags them with address labels, and ships them out in little bubbles called vesicles. It’s the Amazon warehouse of the cell, except packages are constantly getting lost, and the workers are made of protein. If the Golgi doesn’t work, your cells turn into a hoarder’s house, filled with unfinished proteins.
