Dela Cruz, Raven Nicole C.

12 STEM 13
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
December 16, 2020

Critical Review
“Cells at Work”

! Summary
Episode 1: Pneumococcus

A bacteria attacks in the artery, white blood cells came and killed the bacteria
unfortunately one got away. Red blood cell, on her way to lungs got lost and found herself in
kidney. During her search for the lungs she accidentally encounters the bacteria, the moment
she saw the bacteria she run fortunately there’s a white blood cell around. The pneumococcus
bacteria got away again using his bacteria capsule. This time white blood cell guide red blood
cell since they are going in the same place. While white blood cell is with red blood cell his
receptor is alarming but when they parted it stops so he figured out that there is something odd.
Red blood found the room she’s looking for, her box moves and then pneumococcus bacteria
got out from the box. Thankfully white blood cell didn’t actually leave and once more, he
protects red blood cell again by capturing the bacteria in airway mucosa with bronchial tube. In
there the bacteria got thrown away by sneeze. Bacteria leaves the body through sneeze or
cough.

Episode 2: Scrape Wound

Red blood cell on her way to deliver the nutrients, a part of blood vessel explodes due to
scrape wound. Red blood cells got suck in the hole fortunately, while white blood cell is there to
protect them, later bacteria get in through the scrape wound. White blood cell fights the bacteria
and red blood cell run. Red blood cell got stuck in the veins because the valve close because of
contraction for the blood to prevent backflow. During the fight with bacteria, platelets repair the
hole by connecting fibrin and coagulation factors to form blood clot.

Scrape wound an injury where the skin is broken due to friction. Only the epidermis is
broken in this injury. Then injured blood vessels will contract to stop blood from flowing out. The
veins have valves to prevent backflow of blood and blood in veins moves only to the heart. L-
Selectin a glycoprotein binding white blood cells.
When there’s a hole in blood vessel before endothelial cells finish repairing themselves
other blood cells need to fill in the gaps for three days “second blood clot”. Coagulation factors
is a type of protein and net fibrin covers the blood blot that is used to form blood clot with the
help of glycoprotein like the Von Willebrand factor, platelets can begin to form blood clots
around the injury also a dry blood clot is called scab.

Episode 3: Influenza

During the patrol of the naïve T cell he encounter a zombie looking virus called influenza
virus. White blood cell to the rescue protect the naïve T cell, after a while macrophage and killer
T cell arrived. While fighting the naïve T cell runaway, the moment he stops running he saw
dendritic cell which encourage and made him activate. When he comeback to the fight
neutrophils, macrophages and killer T cell was completely cornered. Followed by his arrival B
cell showed up, after one week of fighting they defeated all type B influenza virus. Unfortunately,
one remains and they identified it as type A influenza virus.
 Episode 4: Food Poisoning

Red blood cell and white blood cell was watching how the food get digested, then white
blood cell receptor detected a bacteria. When neutrophil found the bacteria, it was fighting with
another white blood cell called eosinophil. After defeating the bacteria another bacteria emerges
called vibrio parahaemolyticus which manifest in seafood, once again neutrophil defeats the
bacteria. The moment they rejoice from eliminating, anisakis a parasite that resides in raw
seafoods show up. Neutrophils announce that they cannot defeat the anisakis, eosinophil
comes forward and attack the anisakis. Cells found out that even though eosinophils are weak
to defeat a bacteria, they are strong enough to kill a big parasite for it is their job.

Gastric fluids break down nutrients. Stomach can store food that has been consumed
and kill bacteria using gastric acid secreted from the stomach lining. Also uses pepsin, digestive
enzyme to break down food to a semi fluid mass carrying out the first step of digestion.
Nausea and vomiting, reaction triggered by certain stimuli to the vomiting center located
in the medulla oblongata.
The stomach exit closed off while the stomach entrance relaxes causing the stomach to
regurgitate its contents.
The diaphragm and abdominal muscle contracts, compressing the stomach and ejecting
its contents.

Episode 5: Cedar Pollen Allergy

Showering of asteroid looking “cedar pollen” during the peak season. The cedar uses
vents to travel inside the body, red blood cell doing her work heard an emergency about cedar
pollen and then one appeared at her back. White blood cell killed the cedar pollen, a memory b
cell shouts in horror when he sees a cedar pollen because of a legend leading to a catastrophe
if there is a cedar pollen. B cell try to eliminate the other cedar pollen using Ige antibodies,
unfortunately too much IGE antibodies leads to far more complication resulting for mast cell to
use a lot histamine causing floods from tears and volcanic eruption by sneezing. After a while
red blood cell deliver a big black ball in the area containing a robot like steroid. The steroid
shoots houses, cells and anything that has to do with the catastrophe, once the steroid stops
the allergy reaction subside.

February to march is the peak season that cause cedar pollen. Can travel very far and
transported by wind. Cedar pollen allergens is the precursor of catastrophe, it causes symptoms
like sneezing, excessive nasal mucus, nasal congestion and itchy eyes.
Allergies are caused by the immune system’s overreaction to certain allergies.
Phagocytosis can use their plasma membrane to engulf bacteria or other particles also
called “engulfing”.
Histamine is a chemical neurotransmitter released by cells, such as Mast Cells, that
have identified foreign substances or injuries in the tissue. The effects of Histamine caused
Endothelial Cells to contract, dilating blood vessels, increasing the permeability of white blood
cells, and stimulates the sensory neurons in the nasal mucosa, once reach the sneeze center
the body will start sneezing. Because Histamine affects the blood vessels in the nasal mucosa
causing inflammation. As a result, the nasal mucosa swells up and cause nasal congestion.

With regards to tears, Histamine also stimulates sensory neurons in the eyes, causing
inflammatory symptoms such as swelling and itching. Excessive tear production is another
symptom.

Steroid is an adrenocortical hormones effective for curing inflammation and immune

suppression.
 Episode 6: Erythroblasts and Myelocytes

Starts where red blood cell is lost again. She found herself in the red bone marrow, while
in there she reminisced her past when she was still an erythroblast. During the drill in the past
red blood cell met a real bacterium and a white blood cell protect her. Back in the future, she
bumped to a white blood cell. The white blood cell helped her find the way to cell tissue. After
they been apart an unknown cell infected with virus is chasing another cell appeared, followed
by killer T cell and natural killer cell. All together they went to the place where it started. The
natural killer cell figured out that the cell being chase earlier is already infected.

Red bone marrow where all blood cells start out, blood cells are born here from
hematopoietic stem cells and this is where they sorted into categories. Then enucleation the
start where cells became independent cell.

Episode 7: Cancer Cells

The unknown cell from episode six was identified as cancer cell. The cancer cell attacks
because of anger and revenge for the past where killer T cells is killing them. Red blood cell
thought that there is something odd due to bad omens that is happening and lots of demand of
nutrients, she tells this to macrophage and then after that reinforcement comes to fight cancer
cell, then cancer cell got defeated.

Cancer cells is a normal cell but different in some aspect like their DNA. The old cells
that did not die is uncontrollable and became cancer cell.

Episode 8: Circulatory System

Red blood cell keeps getting lost and asking for others help, she got motivated and try to
be independent so she won’t be a burden. White blood cell saw her determination and at the
same time he saw her in a wrong way. White blood cell helped red blood cell with her work
without red blood cell knowing. At last red blood cell complete her task then tell the story of how
she completed her work without anyone’s help, white blood cell listens as if he didn’t know
anything.

Parts of the heart, heart is an organ made entirely of muscle. Receive blood from veins
and pumps it back into arteries. Pumping action repeated about one hundred thousand times a
day. Venous valve prevents blood from flowing backwards and keeps the blood to flow in one
direction. Inferior vena cava the largest vein in the human body and carries blood from the lower
body to the right atrium of the heart. Right atrium receives venous blood from the venae cava
and delivers it to the right ventricle. Tricuspid valve three leaflets located between the right
atrium and right ventricle. When the heart contracts, it allows blood into the right ventricle and
when the heart relax it prevents backflow of blood into the right atrium. Right ventricle has
abundance of carbon dioxide and rich blood. Pulmonary artery delivers venous blood to the
lungs. Lungs is where carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is received. Pulmonary vein
oxygenated blood passes through here. Aorta, the blood passing through aorta branches out
into many different arteries and flows to capillaries all over the body. Lastly capillaries, the
oxygen, nutrients are distributed to cells here and waste like carbon dioxide is gathered.

Episode 9: Thymocytes

It is about the past, on how helper T cell and killer T cell trained in the thymus school.

Episode 10: Staphylococcus Aureus

Red blood cell doing her job got attack by a bacteria and monocyte protected her. While
red blood cell is walking, she’s been attack again by a staphylococcus aureus. This time white
blood cells try to protect her along with other red blood cells but white blood cells got defeated
because the bacteria use a fibrin, monocytes come in rescue revealing their identity as
macrophages. Macrophages wins against the bacteria.

Fibrin is protein that helps blood coagulation, it is sticky like glue or sticky rice cake.
Some bacteria can produce enzyme to coagulate blood and create fibrin.

Episode 11: Heatstroke

During a heatstroke bacillus cereus, a type of germ attack. Due to the heat white blood
cell struggle in fighting the germ. A sudden tube appears and pours water that gives strength to
white blood cell and defeats the germ. All cells go replenished and energized in this episode
ending.

Heatstroke, general term for a condition brought on by an imbalance of water and salt
levels in the body caused by a disruption in the body thermoregulation. Severity classification
falls under three grades. Early onset of heatstroke is characterized by vertigo, dizziness, numb
lips and fainting. Once known by the names “heat syncope” or “heat cramps”. Heat and
temperatures cause blood vessels in the skin to dilate leading to a drop in blood pressure which
then reduces blood flow to the brain. The effects of heatstroke: vertigo is the dizziness and
blurred vision. It is when the surrounding may appear to be spinning. Symptoms arise due to an
impaired sense of balance or a blood clot in the brain. Orthostasis, blood pressure drops when
standing up causing a temporary gray out of vision as well as dizziness though consciousness
is maintained. Fainting is a loss of consciousness that could last anywhere from seconds to
minutes when blood supple to the brain is temporarily decreased or interrupted. Cause of
heatstroke is dehydration, occurs from a significant loss of body fluids and impairs normal body
functions. In this state the body will have difficulties absorbing nutrients and oxygen, excreting
waste regulating temperature and circulating fluids.
Intravenous therapy, injection that delivers medication directly into a vein. Mainly used
for replenishing fluids, nutrients and correcting electrolyte imbalances.
Vasodilation the process when large amounts of blood are sent to the skin for heat
dissipation and one of the mechanisms of thermoregulation.
Phagocytosis when phagocytes absorb bacteria and other foreign substances, they
break them down.
Sweet gland expels toxin and adjust body temperature. There is two types of sweat
glands located in the skin, apocrine glands and eccrine glands.

Episode 12 & 13: Hemorrhagic Shock

Red blood cell is training a rookie then there’s a sudden explosion, lots of blood is lost.
Nearly giving up, appears new red blood cells which helps them go pass through the
hemorrhagic shock. After what they’ve been through all cells is glad and became energetic.

Hemorrhagic shock, caused by external injury or internal bleeding in the digestive

system causes excessive blood loss, resulting in fluctuations of blood pressure. This leads to
dizziness or the loss of consciousness. No proper action taken, it’s likely to result in the loss of
life. If blood loss nears a third of the total blood count, the body goes into shock. Symptoms of
heavy bleeding increase in blood pressure. Initial stage, sympathetic nerves grow agitated,
causing blood pressure to rise. Blood transfusion is a treatment to replace blood loss.

Overall Summary

Red blood cell always got lost on finding places where she needs to deliver the nutrients or
oxygen, also while doing her job she always got caught in accidents and attacked by bacteria or
viruses. Thankfully white blood cells like neutrophils, killer t cells, macrophages, b cells, and
eosinophils comes in rescue. Every time they have a fight with bacteria or viruses, they always
win though sometimes they almost lost but manage to defeat the bacteria or viruses in the end.

Different types of cell. Red blood cells is a progenitor cell when they are born, then grow into
“erythroblasts”. Macrophages are responsible for raising them. They are red because they
contain a lot of hemoglobin. Transport oxygen and carbon dioxide through blood circulation. It
likes sugar and doesn’t contain mitochondria, glucose is their only source of energy.
White blood cells can migrate and has mitochondria. Myelocyte or myeloid cell the baby
version or white blood cell. Half of white blood cells in our blood are neutrophils. Getting rid of
bacteria and viruses that invade the body is there main job. They also patrol to find enemy such
as bacteria and viruses.
T cells, first is helper t cells which act according to their knowledge of the invader and launch
attacks to protect the body then issue instructions to t cells. Second killer t cells an elite
lymphocytes that will take care of everything like the wipe out the bacteria and viruses. It is also
a type of white blood cells. Third naïve t cells the lowest rank of combatant t cells and an
immature t cell. Lastly is the suppressor t cells, it prevent t cells from losing controls and keeps
the immune system in check.
Natural killer cell patrol around the body, once found cancer cells or cells infected by virus,
they attack them.
Monocytes a mononuclear migratory cell that accounts for seven percent of white blood cell.
Like other immunocytes, they defend the body, skilled in phagocytosis and migration. Produced
in the bone marrow, then start circulating blood stream. Once they leave the blood vessel they
became macrophages. Macrophages act as a janitor who clean up dead cells and bacteria.
They also relay intel on bacteria and viruses. The lethality of macrophages is quite high that
enable them to capture and eliminate bacteria.
Eosinophils a variety of white blood cells, make up just a few percentage of all white blood
cells. They only multiply during allergic reactions or parasitic infection. Their main job is to
exterminate parasites.
Basophils a variety of white blood cells, make up less than one percent of white blood cells
upon encountering specific antigens. It release histamines and the like thus triggering an allergic
reaction. Can create substances that draw neutrophils and eosinophils to the affected area.
B cells an antibody secreting cells, a type of lymphocyte “B lymphocytes”. It can produce
antibodies as weapons against antigens. There’s also memory b cells that help the body to deal
with the same bacteria and virus.
Dendritic cells the one that process antigen fragments from bacteria and virus infected cells
the present these antigens to other cells of the immune system. Encouraging and activating t
cells is part of dendritic cells job.
Mast cells a fattening cells but have nothing to do with fat. It releases chemical substances
such as histamines and leukotrienes in reaction to excessive Immunoglobin E.
Platelets a component of blood that clump together when blood vessels are injured, blood
clots stop the bleeding. The most important blood cells.
Thymus epithelial cells, form the thymus, help produce lymphocytes and help t cells go
through cellular differentiation.
Cancer cells a cell with genetic abnormality that spread and grow uncontrollably. It invades
the boundaries of surrounding normal cells and keep on proliferate. Produced at a rate of
several thousand a day. Spread through veins and lymphatic channels.
Bacteria attack different organs through blood vessels. They can control the meninges that
surround the brain. It is fast and can invade the entire body in twenty-four hours. Types of
bacteria, Pneumococcus bacteria an alpha hemolysis bacteria causes disease like pneumonia,
bacteremia. It has bacteria capsule and quite lethal. Targets red blood cells. Staphylococcus
aureus a bacteria that exists in the skin and pores. It is very powerful, if it gets through the injury
it can cause skin irritation, food poisoning, pneumonia, meningitis or sepsis. They use fibrin as a
defense mechanism to evade attacks from white blood cells. Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria
exists around the pharynx, digestive organs and the skin. It is a common bacteria, but can
cause various illnesses. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteria often found in nature and main
cause of many diseases. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, bacterium that mainly lives in the saltwater.
Consumption of seafood contaminated with this bacterium may result in acute vibrio
gastroenteritis along with severe stomach pain. Bacillus cereus, bacterium commonly found in
natural environments such as soil and water. It can cause diarrhea or emetic food poisoning.
Produce protective endospores allowing it to survive temperatures up to one hundred degrees
Celsius for up to thirty minutes. Heatstroke does not facilitate the spread of bacillus cereus.
Anisakis, parasites found in marine mammals. When human consume raw seafood
infested with anisakis the parasite may penetrate the stomach or intestinal walls causing food
poisoning symptoms such as acute abdominal pain and vomiting.
Influenza virus a virus that can cause influenza an infectious disease. It is bind to cells
and replicate and multiplies far faster rate than bacteria. Has three main categories: type a, type
b and type c where type a contains many variants within its category and can easily give rise to
pandemic. Symptoms of influenza fever over thirty-eight degree celsius, headache, muscle and
joint pain. Influenza proliferation, when in the body the influenza virus can complete one
hundred replication cycles in eight hours and a million in twenty-four hours.

! Reaction

The anime cells at work is well defined, explanation was clear and can be easily understand,
graphics is nicely done, well presented and superb. The characters were not that hard to
distinguish for what they are representing because of the color and names, also their job and
roles is on point. This anime is full of information includes a lot of educational terms that can
help us improve our awareness and comprehension. Even a single episode contains mind
blowing facts and data.

Honestly my first thought was "I might not enjoy" but the very first time I watch it I got excited
for what I might learn. Typically, I’m the type of person who based on the first episode if I’ll like it
or not. Fortunately, I love the series.

Mastery and accomplishment within the anime is far more interesting and amazing for a
student like me without enough knowledge about the human body.

I would like to recommend the anime called "cells at work" as an informative series for those
who seek knowledge about our body.