Cytoplasm

The cytoplasm describes all the material within a <a href="/facts/Eukaryote/SkwyPLMA">eukaryotic</a> or <a href="/facts/Prokaryote/oYyvaDDH">prokaryotic</a> <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cell</a>, enclosed by the <a href="/facts/Cell_membrane/vAXSD0DT">cell membrane</a>, including the <a href="/facts/Organelle/vhDFnGbs">organelles</a> and excluding the <a href="/facts/Cell_nucleus/D7sFRa3c">nucleus</a> in eukaryotic cells. The material inside the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell and contained within the <a href="/facts/Nuclear_envelope/IwRQ5BVL">nuclear membrane</a> is termed the <a href="/facts/Nucleoplasm/PNGpzgCK">nucleoplasm</a>. The main components of the cytoplasm are the <a href="/facts/Cytosol/VyXgygWm">cytosol</a> (a gel-like substance), the cell's internal sub-structures, and various <a href="/facts/Cytoplasmic_inclusion/xhHqo9p0">cytoplasmic inclusions</a>. In eukaryotes the cytoplasm also includes the nucleus, and other <a href="/facts/Membrane-bound_organelle/vhDFnGbs">membrane-bound organelles</a>.The cytoplasm is about 80% water and is usually colorless.
The submicroscopic ground cell substance, or cytoplasmic matrix, that remains after the exclusion of the cell <a href="/facts/Organelle/vhDFnGbs">organelles</a> and particles is <a href="/facts/Groundplasm/VyXgygWm">groundplasm</a>. It is the <a href="/facts/Hyaloplasm/VyXgygWm">hyaloplasm</a> of light microscopy, a highly complex, polyphasic system in which all resolvable cytoplasmic elements are suspended, including the larger organelles such as the <a href="/facts/Ribosome/CF2u2gtg">ribosomes</a>, <a href="/facts/Mitochondria/ErHqrdJ1">mitochondria</a>, plant <a href="/facts/Plastid/INesmXK7">plastids</a>, <a href="/facts/Lipid/TdQR87HX">lipid</a> droplets, and <a href="/facts/Vacuole/9QjBVb7j">vacuoles</a>.
Many cellular activities take place within the cytoplasm, such as many <a href="/facts/Metabolic_pathway/8Py8HKJd">metabolic pathways</a>, including <a href="/facts/Glycolysis/a5ApxLoG">glycolysis</a>, <a href="/facts/Photosynthesis/TMV7w693">photosynthesis</a>, and processes such as <a href="/facts/Cell_division/n5MrunWj">cell division</a>. The concentrated inner area is called the <a href="/facts/Endoplasm/lbImdLTD">endoplasm</a> and the outer layer is called the <a href="/facts/Cell_cortex/yfjod4AG">cell cortex</a>, or <a href="/facts/Ectoplasm_(cell_biology)/0EH2s4X4">ectoplasm</a>.
Movement of <a href="/facts/Calcium_ion/hf252CC0">calcium ions</a> in and out of the cytoplasm is a <a href="/facts/Recognition_signal/FGtf50f7">signaling</a> activity for <a href="/facts/Metabolic/WxDrm8k5">metabolic</a> processes.
In <a href="/facts/Plant/X5BMDMvS">plants</a>, movement of the cytoplasm around vacuoles is known as <a href="/facts/Cytoplasmic_streaming/hVo5zYXB">cytoplasmic streaming</a>.

Cytoplasm open-in-new

Cytoplasm