I have a confusion over plant and animal cells. In encyclopedia of eds, most of the parts of both animal and plant cells are exactly alike. For example,
Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, Nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes etc. Not only their names are same but also their definations and explanations are same. Is this a mistake in the book?

Dear not only their name but their functions are also the same in both cells. to eradicate your confusion you should study difference between animal and plant cell, only those parts or functions are different and the rest are the same in both.
Like for example Plant cells have Cell wall while the same is absent in Animals and the same is the case with Choroplast etc.
On the other hand both need energy and metabolism bodies so both have mitochondria etc.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/plant...imal-cell.html
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Ani..._vs_Plant_Cell

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Master in English Literature. Gold Medalist, the University of Lahore.

Animal Cell
An Animal Cell is the rudimentary unit of life for Kingdom Animalia organisms. They have Eukaryotic characteristics. These cells consist of accurate Nucleus and also contain dedicated structures which perform specific function inside the cell and are called Organelles. Like the Plant cells, they did not possess Cell Wall and Photosynthetic Center Chloroplast. For More Detail about animal cell must Visit ibiologia.com
Plant Cell
For the living organisms of Kingdom Plantae, Plant cells are the functional unit of life. Plants cells are usually Eukaryotic cell. They have specialized peripheral Nucleus and other specialized structures along with nucleus also present which are called Organelles. Inside the plant cell, each organelle performs a specialized function according to its structure. Due to the presence of cell walls, chloroplasts, and central vacuole Plants cells are discriminated from the other organism’s cells. More detail Click Here

Animal cells and plant cells are similar in that they are both eukaryotic cells. These cells have a true nucleus, which houses DNA and is separated from other cellular structures by a nuclear membrane. Both of these cell types have similar processes for reproduction, which include mitosis and meiosis. Animal and plant cells obtain the energy they need to grow and maintain normal cellular function through the process of cellular respiration. Both of these cell types also contain cell structures known as organelles, which are specialized to perform functions necessary for normal cellular operation. Animal and plant cells have some of the same cell components in common including a nucleus, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, mitochondria, peroxisomes, cytoskeleton, and cell (plasma) membrane. While animal and plant cells have many common characteristics, they are also different.

Differences Between Animal Cells and Plant Cells:

Size
Animal cells are generally smaller than plant cells. Animal cells range from 10 to 30 micrometers in length, while plant cells range from 10 and 100 micrometers in length.

Shape
Animal cells come in various sizes and tend to have round or irregular shapes. Plant cells are more similar in size and are typically rectangular or cube shaped.

Energy Storage
Animals cells store energy in the form of the complex carbohydrate glycogen. Plant cells store energy as starch.

Proteins
Of the 20 amino acids needed to produce proteins, only 10 can be produced naturally in animal cells. The other so-called essential amino acids must be acquired through diet. Plants are capable of synthesizing all 20 amino acids.

Differentiation
In animal cells, only stem cells are capable of converting to other cell types. Most plant cell types are capable of differentiation.

Growth
Animal cells increase in size by increasing in cell numbers. Plant cells mainly increase cell size by becoming larger. They grow by absorbing more water into the central vacuole.

Cell Wall
Animal cells do not have a cell wall but have a cell membrane. Plant cells have a cell wall composed of cellulose as well as a cell membrane.

Centrioles
Animal cells contain these cylindrical structures that organize the assembly of microtubules during cell division. Plant cells do not typically contain centrioles.

Cilia
Cilia are found in animal cells but not usually in plant cells. Cilia are microtubules that aid in cellular locomotion.

Cytokinesis
Cytokinesis, the division of the cytoplasm during cell division, occurs in animal cells when a cleavage furrow forms that pinches the cell membrane in half. In plant cell cytokinesis, a cell plate is constructed that divides the cell.

Glyoxysomes
These structures are not found in animal cells but are present in plant cells. Glyoxysomes help to degrade lipids, particularly in germinating seeds, for the production of sugar.

Lysosomes
Animal cells possess lysosomes which contain enzymes that digest cellular macromolecules. Plant cells rarely contain lysosomes as the plant vacuole handles molecule degradation.

Plastids
Animal cells do not have plastids. Plant cells contain plastids such as chloroplasts, which are needed for photosynthesis.

Plasmodesmata
Animal cells do not have plasmodesmata. Plant cells have plasmodesmata, which are pores between plant cell walls that allow molecules and communication signals to pass between individual plant cells.

Vacuole
Animal cells may have many small vacuoles. Plant cells have a large central vacuole that can occupy up to 90% of the cell's volume.

P. S. This content is copied. I hope it helps.

Difference between Plant and Animal Cell.

The plant cell and the animal cell can be differentiated by the*presence of organelles in them. Although both are classified as*Eukaryotes,*the presence of*the cell wall, vacuoles, and chloroplastsare the most remarkable and distinguishing components of the plant cells which are absent in the animal cells. Even the size of the*animal cell is smaller*than the plant cell.

The concept of cell originated from the historical work done by the*Schleiden and Schwann in 1838. Cells exist in an amazing variety of sizes and shapes. Likewise the living beings, the individual cells that form the body can grow, reproduce, process information, as well respond to stimuli. Despite the differences among different kinds of the cells whether it is plant cell or animal cell, single celled or multi cell, they all share certain common features and carry out different complicated process in the almost same way.
It is not my personal content, it is copied. To me it is good answer to this question.