Difference between plant and animal cell according to position of cytoplasm
In both plant and animal cells, the cytoplasm is the gel-like substance that fills the interior of the cell and surrounds the organelles (cellular structures). However, the position of the cytoplasm may vary between plant and animal cells due to the presence or absence of certain cellular components.
In plant cells, the cytoplasm is pushed towards the periphery, close to the cell membrane, due to the presence of the large central vacuole. The central vacuole serves multiple roles, such as storage of materials, waste disposal, and maintaining internal pressure (turgor pressure). Consequently, the plant cell cytoplasm forms a thin layer between the cell membrane and the central vacuole, with organelles embedded within it.
In animal cells, the lack of a large central vacuole allows the cytoplasm to occupy a larger portion of the cell volume, with organelles dispersed throughout. Animal cells may also contain small vacuoles, but they do not affect the overall distribution or position of the cytoplasm.
Additionally, plant cells have a rigid cell wall surrounding the cell membrane, which also affects the positioning of the cytoplasm. While animal cells only have a cell membrane without an external cell wall, the pressure exerted by the plant cell wall on the cytoplasm also contributes to its peripheral positioning.