The smooth endoplasmic reticulum functions in many metabolic processes. It synthesizes lipids, phospholipids as in plasma membranes, and steroids. Cells that secrete these products, such as cells of the testes, ovaries, and skin oil glands, have an excess of smooth endoplasmic reticulum.

When was the smooth endoplasmic reticulum discovered?

Discovery of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER):

It was discovered independently by Porter (1945) and Thompson (1945). The name was given by Porter in 1953. Endoplasmic reticulum is a 3-dimensional, complicated and interconnected syncrri of membrane-lined channels that run through the cytoplasm.

How do you know if its rough or smooth endoplasmic reticulum?

There are two basic types of ER. Both rough ER and smooth ER have the same types of membranes but they have different shapes. Rough ER looks like sheets or disks of bumpy membranes while smooth ER looks more like tubes. Rough ER is called rough because it has ribosomes attached to its surface.