(noun. /or-gan-ELL/)
by Mariah Jones
What does it mean?
Organelles are specialized structures or fixtures that are located inside cells. These structures assist the cell in tasks that are needed for the cell to survive and do its job. Organelles are to the cell, as organs are to the body.
How do I use it in a sentence?
The mitochondrion is an organelle found in both animal and plant cells.
Etymology
The word comes from the Latin word “organella,” from the diminutive Latin word organum meaning “instrument.”
History of usage
Before the 1920’s, scientists would typically use the phrase “cellular organs” when referring to organelles. German scientist, Bengt Lidforss, referenced referenced organelles as “organs or organells” in 1915. This placed both terms side by side, making organelle an option for future references. The term has had different definitions, to different scientists. After the 1980’s organelle has taken the more common modern definition we use today.
Related terms
Mitochondria/mitochondrion
Chloroplast
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Golgi Apparatus
Eukaryotic
Prokaryotic
Cell
Fields of study in which this word is commonly used
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Cellular Biology
Chemistry
Biomedicine
Biology
