Exhibit Codex
The Human Cell
Enter the architecture of a cell. Follow folded membranes, trace the protein pathway and separate fifteen cellular systems into a gallery of microscopic structures.
Open interactive exhibit ↗About this exhibit
Life at the cellular scale
Reference and coverage
An original, generalized animal-cell reconstruction. Human cells vary greatly; this is not a particular cell type or a microscopy scan. Colors, numbers and molecular proportions are illustrative. Fine structures are enlarged for visibility.
Available layers
- Plasma membrane
- Cytosol
- Cytoskeleton
- Nuclear envelope
- Chromatin
- Nucleolus
- Rough ER
- Smooth ER
- Golgi apparatus
- Mitochondria
- Ribosomes
- Lysosomes
- Peroxisomes
- Transport vesicles
- Centrosome
Structure index
Named structures in this reference. Open the interactive Codex for additional study views and selectable records.
Plasma membrane - opened bilayer
Plasma membrane
Lipid heads - enlarged molecular markers
Plasma membrane
Membrane transport channels
Plasma membrane
Outer nuclear membrane - cutaway
Nuclear envelope
Inner nuclear membrane - cutaway
Nuclear envelope
Nuclear pore complexes - ring and basket
Nuclear envelope
Nuclear lamina - supporting mesh
Nuclear envelope
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 1
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 2
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 3
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 4
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 5
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 6
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 7
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 8
Chromatin
Interphase chromatin - folding domain 9
Chromatin
Nucleolus - granular and fibrillar regions
Nucleolus
A membrane-free ribosome assembly region. The textured domains illustrate internal organization; they are not individual organelles or a measured ultrastructure.
Rough ER - folded cisterna 1
Rough ER
Bound ribosomes - ER cisterna 1
Ribosomes
Rough ER - folded cisterna 2
Rough ER
Bound ribosomes - ER cisterna 2
Ribosomes
Rough ER - folded cisterna 3
Rough ER
Bound ribosomes - ER cisterna 3
Ribosomes
Rough ER - folded cisterna 4
Rough ER
Bound ribosomes - ER cisterna 4
Ribosomes
Rough ER - folded cisterna 5
Rough ER
Bound ribosomes - ER cisterna 5
Ribosomes
Rough ER - folded cisterna 6
Rough ER
Bound ribosomes - ER cisterna 6
Ribosomes
Rough ER - folded cisterna 7
Rough ER
Bound ribosomes - ER cisterna 7
Ribosomes
Smooth ER - branching tubules 1
Smooth ER
Smooth ER - branching tubules 2
Smooth ER
Smooth ER - branching tubules 3
Smooth ER
Golgi - cis cisterna 1
Golgi apparatus
Golgi - cis cisterna 2
Golgi apparatus
Golgi - medial cisterna 3
Golgi apparatus
Golgi - medial cisterna 4
Golgi apparatus
Golgi - medial cisterna 5
Golgi apparatus
Golgi - trans cisterna 6
Golgi apparatus
Golgi - trans cisterna 7
Golgi apparatus
Mitochondrion 1 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 1 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 1 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Mitochondrion 2 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 2 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 2 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Mitochondrion 3 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 3 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 3 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Mitochondrion 4 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 4 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 4 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Mitochondrion 5 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 5 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 5 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Mitochondrion 6 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 6 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 6 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Mitochondrion 7 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 7 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 7 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Mitochondrion 8 - opened outer membrane
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 8 - inner membrane cristae
Mitochondria
Mitochondrion 8 - matrix and mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria
Two circular DNA markers and matrix granules identify the mitochondrial interior. Copy number, size and arrangement are illustrative, not a measurement.
Cytosolic molecular markers
Cytosol
Free ribosomes - paired subunit population
Ribosomes
Microtubules - radial support
Cytoskeleton
Actin - peripheral filaments
Cytoskeleton
Intermediate filaments - tensile network
Cytoskeleton
Lysosome 1
Lysosomes
Lysosome 2
Lysosomes
Lysosome 3
Lysosomes
Lysosome 4
Lysosomes
Lysosome 5
Lysosomes
Peroxisome 1
Peroxisomes
Peroxisome 2
Peroxisomes
Peroxisome 3
Peroxisomes
Peroxisome 4
Peroxisomes
Peroxisome 5
Peroxisomes
Transport vesicles - ER to Golgi to membrane
Transport vesicles
Centriole 1 - nine microtubule triplets
Centrosome
Centriole 2 - nine microtubule triplets
Centrosome
Read the detailed records
Open the full exhibit Codex for individual structure records and time-specific information. The Credits page lists source creators, licenses and adaptations.