Editing Cytoplasm (section)

{{Short description|All of the contents of a cell including organelles but excluding the nucleus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Organelle diagram}}

The '''cytoplasm''' describes all the material within a [[eukaryote|eukaryotic]] or [[Prokaryote|prokaryotic]] [[Cell (biology)|cell]], enclosed by the [[cell membrane]], including the [[organelle]]s<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cytoplasm |url=https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/cytoplasm-280/#:~:text=In%20eukaryotic%20cells%2C%20the%20cytoplasm,are%20located%20in%20the%20cytoplasm. |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Scitable by Nature Education |publisher=Springer Nature Limited}}</ref> and excluding the [[Cell nucleus|nucleus]] in eukaryotic cells. The material inside the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell and contained within the [[nuclear envelope|nuclear membrane]] is termed the [[nucleoplasm]]. The main components of the cytoplasm are the [[cytosol]] (a gel-like substance), the cell's internal sub-structures, and various [[cytoplasmic inclusion]]s. In eukaryotes the cytoplasm also includes the nucleus, and other [[membrane-bound organelle]]s.The cytoplasm is about 80% water and is usually colorless.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The cytomatrix as a cooperative system of macromolecular and water networks |vauthors=Shepherd VA |date=2006 |isbn=9780121531751 |series=Current Topics in Developmental Biology |volume=75 |pages=171–223 |doi=10.1016/S0070-2153(06)75006-2 |pmid=16984813}}</ref>

The submicroscopic ground cell substance, or cytoplasmic matrix, that remains after the exclusion of the cell [[organelle]]s and particles is [[groundplasm]].  It is the [[hyaloplasm]] of light microscopy, a highly complex, polyphasic system in which all resolvable cytoplasmic elements are suspended, including the larger organelles such as the [[ribosome]]s, [[mitochondria]], plant [[plastid]]s, [[lipid]] droplets, and [[vacuole]]s.

Many cellular activities take place within the cytoplasm, such as many [[metabolic pathway]]s,  including [[glycolysis]], [[photosynthesis]],  and processes such as [[cell division]]. The concentrated inner area is called the [[endoplasm]] and the outer layer is called the [[cell cortex]], or [[ectoplasm (cell biology)|ectoplasm]].

Movement of [[calcium ion]]s in and out of the cytoplasm is a [[Recognition signal|signaling]] activity for [[metabolic]] processes.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hogan |first=C. Michael |title=Encyclopedia of Earth |date=2010 |publisher=National Council for Science and the Environment |veditors=Jorgensen A, Cleveland C |chapter=Calcium |chapter-url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Calcium?topic=49557 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612123626/http://www.eoearth.org/article/Calcium?topic=49557 |archive-date=12 June 2012}}</ref>

In [[plant]]s, movement of the cytoplasm around vacuoles is known as [[cytoplasmic streaming]].