Structure of the Cell > Cytoplasm: “Area of Movement”

The cytoplasm is the fluid content inside the plasma membrane with cell organelles embedded into it. The jelly-like fluid between the plasma membrane and nucleus, where many organelles float. It enables cellular chemical reactions and helps move materials around the cell.

• The cytoplasm helps in the exchange of material between cell organelles. It acts as a store of vital chemicals such as glucose, vitamins, etc.
• The part of the cytoplasm without organelles that stores essential substances like amino acids, glucose, and vitamins is known as the cytosol.
• The cytoplasm is all the contents inside the cell membrane, excluding the nucleus. And protoplasm includes the cytoplasm and the nucleus of the cell.
• In animal cells, the cytoplasm is thicker and denser, while in plant cells, it is thinner and pushed to the edges due to the central vacuole.

Onion peeling

The part of the cytoplasm other than the organelles (mitochondria, etc.) is called cytosol, which constitutes mainly the liquid medium. 

1. Cytoplasm lies between the cell membrane and the nucleus, excluding the nucleus itself.
2. It is a semi-liquid medium containing water, solutes, and various organelles.
3. The cytosol is the fluid part of the cytoplasm, excluding organelles.
4. Site of all metabolic activities, including enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
5. It supports the functions of organelles and is the medium for glycolysis (anaerobic respiration phase).