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Definition

An organelle is a specialized subunit, within a biological cell, that has a specific function. The name organelle comes from the idea that these structures are parts of cells, as organs are to the body, hence organelle, the suffix -elle being a diminutive. Organelles are either separately enclosed within their own lipid bilayers or are spatially distinct functional units without a surrounding lipid bilayer. Although most organelles are functional units within cells, some functional units that extend outside of cells are often termed organelles, such as cilia, the flagellum and archaellum, and the trichocyst.

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ATP synthaseAcrosomeAdenosine triphosphateAmyloplastAnaerobic ammonium oxidationAnalogyAnammoxAnammoxosomeAnatomical terms of microanatomyAnimal cellAntenna complexApicoplastArchaellumArchaeplastidArtifact (error)AutophagosomeAxonemeBacterial microcompartmentBasal bodyBiocoenosisBiological membraneBiological organisationBiological systemBiomeBiomolecular complexBiomolecular condensateBiomoleculeBiosphereCandidatusCandidatus Brocadia anammoxidansCapsidCarbon fixationCarboxysomeCell (biology)Cell biologyCell fractionationCell membraneCell nucleusCell wallCellular compartmentCentrioleCentrosomeChloroplastChlorosomeChondriomeChristian Gottfried EhrenbergChromatophore (bacteria)ChromoplastCiliaCiliumCnidariaCnidocyteCoRR hypothesisCyanobacteriaCytoplasmCytoskeletonCytosolDNA polymerase III holoenzymeDiminutiveEcosystemEjectosomeElaioplastElectron microscopyEndomembrane systemEndoplasmic reticulumEndosomeEndosymbiontEndosymbiotic theoryEuglenidsEukaryoteEukaryotesEukaryotic cellExosome (vesicle)Extracellular matrixEyespot apparatusFilopodiumFlagellumFoundational Model of AnatomyFélix DujardinGemmata obscuriglobusGenomeGerm cellGerontoplastGlycolysisGlycosomeGlyoxysomeGolgi apparatusGranule (cell biology)Green algaeGreen sulfur bacteriaGroELGroESHalothiobacillusHomeostasisHost–pathogen interactionHuman bodyHydrogenosomeInclusion (cell)Intermediate filamentInvaginationIron–sulfur clusterKarl August MöbiusKleptoplastyLadderaneLamellipodiumLatinLeucoplastLight-dependent reactionsLight microscopeLipid bilayersLysosomeMRNPMacromolecular assemblyMacromoleculeMagnetosomeMagnetotactic bacteriaMedical Subject HeadingsMelanosomeMembrane vesicle traffickingMesosomeMicrobodyMicrofilamentMicroscopeMicroscopyMicrotubuleMicrotubule-organizing centerMicrotubule organizing centerMitochondrionMitosomeMyocyteMyofibrilNitroplastNuclear envelopeNucleoidNucleolusNucleosomeOcelloidOrgan (anatomy)Organ (biology)Organelle biogenesisOrganismOtto BütschliParenthesomePeroxisomePhagosomePhase separationPhotosynthesisPhotosyntheticPhotosystem IPhototaxisPilusPlanctomycetotaPlasmidPlastidPopulation (biology)PorosomeProkaryoteProkaryotic cytoskeletonProteasomeProteinProtein complexProteinoplastProtozoaPseudopodiumPurple bacteriaRNARNA polymerase II holoenzymeRadial spokeRibosomeRough endoplasmic reticulumSmooth endoplasmic reticulumSpindle pole bodySpliceosomeStress granuleTIGER domainTannosomeTerminologia HistologicaThiomargarita magnificaThylakoidTissue (biology)Transcription (genetics)Translation (genetics)TrichocystTrypanosomatidUndulipodiumUnicellular organismVacuoleVacuolesVault (organelle)Vesicle (biology)Vesicle (biology and chemistry)Vesiculo-vacuolar organelleWarnowiaceaeWeibel–Palade body

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