Unit II

CELL, TISSUES, GLANDS, AND MEMBRANES

Cell
- the basic unit of life of all organisms.

3 MAIN PARTS OF A CELL

- Plasma/Cell membrane
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus

Plasma/Cell membrane
- forms the cell’s flexible outer surface, separating the
cell’s internal environment (inside the cell) from the
external environment (outside the cell).
 - selective barrier that regulates the flow of materials
into and out of a cell.

Cytoplasm
- consists of all the cellular contents between the
plasma membrane and the nucleus.
 Cytosol - the fluid portion of cytoplasm, contains
water, dissolved solutes, and suspended particles.
 Organelles – little organs

Nucleus
- command center of the cell
FUNCTIONS OF THE CELL
1. Basic Unit of Life – retains all the characteristics of
life
2. Protection and Support – produce and secrete
various molecules that provide protection and support
of the body.
3. Movement – occurs because of molecules located
within specific cells
4. Communication – produce and receive chemical and
electrical signals
5. Cell metabolism and energy release – chemical
reactions that occur within cells
6. Inheritance – contains a copy of the genetic
information of the individual.
OTHER ORGANELLES
NUCLEUS
- nucleus is a spherical or oval-shaped structure that
usually is the most prominent feature of a cell.
 Nuclear Envelope – a double layer of membrane that
separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm
 Nuclear Pores – control the movement of substances
between the nucleus and cytoplasm.
 Nucleoli – site for synthesis of rRNA
- more prominent in cells that synthesize large
amounts of proteins
 Genes - cell’s hereditary unit which control cellular
structure and direct cellular activity
 Genome – total genetic information carried in a cell.
Ribosomes – organelles where proteins are produced.
Endoplasmic Reticulum – a series of membranes
forming sacs and tubules that extends from the outer
nuclear membrane into the cytoplasm.
 Rough ER – with ribosomes attached with it.
 Smooth ER – without ribosomes and site for lipid
synthesis. It also participates in detoxification of
chemicals within the cell.
Golgi Apparatus – consists of closely packed stack of
curved membrane-bound sacs.
- it collects, modifies, packages, and
distributes proteins and lipids manufactured by ER.
Secretory Vesicles – small, membrane-bound sac
that transports or store materials within cells.
- pinch off from the Golgi apparatus and
move to the surface of the cell.
Lysosomes – are membrane-bound vesicle formed
from the Golgi apparatus.
- contain a variety of enzymes that function as
intracellular digestive system.
Peroxisomes – are small, membrane-bound vesicle
containing enzymes that break down fatty acids,
amino acids, and hydrogen peroxide.
Mitochondria – are small, bean-shaped, rod-shaped, or
long, threadlike organelles with inner and outer
membranes.
- major sites of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
production within the cells.
- ATP is the major energy source for most chemical
reactions within the cell
Cytoskeleton – consists of proteins that support the
cell, hold the organelles in place, and enable the cell to
change shape.
 Microtubules – hollow structures formed from protein
subunits.
 Microfilaments – small fibrils formed from protein
subunits that support the cytoplasm
 Intermediate filaments – fibrils formed from protein
subunits that are similar in diameter that microtubules
but larger in diameter than microfilaments.
Centrioles – a small, cylindrical organelle composed
of nine triplets, each consisting of three parallel
mircotubules joined together
Cilia – project from the surface of cells, are capable of
moving, and vary in number from one to thousands
per cell.
Flagella – have a structure similar to that of cilia but
are much longer, and usually occur only one per cell.
Microvilli – are specialized extensions of the cell
membrane that are supported by microfilaments, but
they di bit actively move like cilia and flagella.