UNIT 1 – CELLS & TISSUES

ENG 135 – GP Y1
A - CELLS
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URUJD5NEXC8

1. What is the smallest living unit of an organism?

2. How many things all cells have in general? What are they?
3. What are 2 main types of cells? Give 2 examples to
differentiate between them.
4. What are some parts of the cell and what do they do?
5. Name some unique structures that only special cells have.
A - CELLS
There are several criteria for differentiating living from
non-living things. One of these is the presence of
protoplasm. This jelly-like material is always present in living
things and never in non-living things. Protoplasm is usually
transparent and colorless. It often has the appearance and
consistency of the inside of a chicken egg. Protoplasm is
present only in cells and as necessary as cytoplasm. Without
it all cells would stop living.
A - CELLS
Most cells can be seen only with a microscope. They are
microscopic in size. A few are relatively large and can be seen
without a microscope. Cells differ in shape as well as in size, they
are all similar in composition and structure. All cells are made up
of protoplasm, and most of them have a nucleus. The nucleus
controls the life activities in the cell. The protoplasm outside the
nucleus is the cytoplasm. In plants and some animals, cytoplasm
often contains vacuoles. A vacuole is a cavity that is filled with
watery liquid. Vacuoles hold food until it is digested and help
eliminate excess water from the cell.
A - CELLS

Another structural similarity of all cells is the cell membrane

that encloses the protoplasm. Food entering the cell and wastes
leaving it always pass through this membrane. Some cells have
cell walls outside their membrane. Composed of cellulose, cell
walls give strength and protection to the cell.
A - CELLS

TIME TO RELAX: THE CELL SONG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rABKB5aS2Zg
B - TISSUES
Growth is one of the criteria by which we differentiate between
living and non-living things. Growth begins to occur when a cell in
one living thing increases in size or number. Individual cells do not
increase in size very much, even when they are mature, almost all
cells are microscopic in size. Therefore, growth usually involves an
increase in the number of cells.
As living things grow, they usually become more complex. The
cells become organized into tissue to perform different life
activities. There are several kinds of tissue in most higher plants and
animals. For instance, in the human body there are four basic types
of tissue: epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues.
B - TISSUES
The outer layer of skin is composed of epithelial tissue, also
called epithelium. Epithelium also forms glands and lines organs
inside the body, such as the stomach.
Connective tissue serves the important function of connecting
other tissues to each other and to the bones of the skeleton which
support and protect the body. The skeleton itself is built of a special
kind of connective tissue. Another type of connective tissue
produces blood cells.
Muscles make possible all of the movements necessary for life
activities. Muscular tissue is composed of long, thin cells, fibers,
which can contract and relax. Connective tissue connects these
muscle cells to bones.
B - TISSUES
Nervous tissue makes up the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Nerve
cells receive stimuli from inside and outside the body. They conduct
these stimuli to the brain and spinal cord. In response to the stimuli,
impulses are sent out to the muscles and glands. This causes the
muscles to contract and the glands to secrete or stopping secreting
fluids.
When smaller cells are organized into one group, they are called a
tissue. Several different tissues organized into a larger group form an
organ. The stomach, which helps digest food, is an example of an organ.
It is composed of four types of tissue found in the human body. When a
group of organs works together to perform one general function, they
form a system. The nervous system, composed of the brain, spinal cord,
and nerves, is the most complex of all the body systems.
 Cell – the basic unit of life
Cytology – the study of cell structure & function
Histology – the study of the structure and function of tissues.
B - TISSUES
VIDEO:
The 4 tissue types:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKWTJ3_-1E8