STRUCTURE

OF CELL
 INTRODUCTION
• Fundamental unit of life.
• Cells are the structural units of all
tissues and organs of the body.
• The first cells were observed more
than 300 years ago and named by
English scientist Robert Hooke in
1665.
• Some organisms consist of a single
cells = unicellular organism, others
are multicellular.
• Diameter- 2-120µm.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CELL

Following are the various essential characteristics of cells:

• Cells provide structure and support to the body of an
organism.
• The cell interior is organised into different individual
organelles surrounded by a separate membrane.
• The nucleus (major organelle) holds genetic information
necessary for reproduction and cell growth.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CELL
• Every cell has one nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles in the cytoplasm.
• Mitochondria, a double membrane-bound organelle is
mainly responsible for the energy transactions vital for the
survival of the cell.
• Lysosomes digest unwanted materials in the cell.
• Endoplasmic reticulum plays a significant role in the
internal organisation of the cell by synthesising selective
molecules and processing, directing and sorting them to
their appropriate locations.
 DEFINITION OF CELL
• A cell is defined as the
smallest, basic unit of life
that is responsible for all
of life’s processes
• human cell is eukaryotic.
It consists of:
A. Cell Membrane
B. Cytoplasm
C. Nucleus
 STRUCTURE OF CELLS
• All human cells are microscopic size ,shape and
functions
• 100 trillions cells are make up human body.
• Cells are vary in their size, shape and arrangement but
all cells have similar components, each with a particular
function.
• Cells can mutate (change genetically)as a result of
accidental changes in its genetic material (DNA)
STRUCTURE OF CELLS
 PARTS OF A CELL
A human cell has three main parts:
• The plasma membrane: the outer
boundary of the cell.
• The cytoplasm: the intracellular fluid
packed with organelles, small structures
that perform specific cell functions.
• The nucleus: an organelle that controls
cellular activities. The nucleus lies near
the cell’s center.
CELL WITH VARIOUS ORGANELLES
 CELL MEMBRANE /PLASMA
MEMBRANE
• The outermost part of the
cell is covered by a
membrane called cell
membrane or plasma
membrane.
• It is extremely thin and
delicate membrane and its
thickness range from 6 to
10 mm.
 STRUCTURE OF CELL MEMBRANE
Under the electron microscope the membrane appears as
a trilaminar structure, with outer and inner dark layer and
light layer in between them.
Chemically they are made up of phospholipid and
protein molecules.
Each phospholipid molecule has a head and tail.
The head contains phosphate and is water soluble
(hydrophilic)
The tail consists of two fatty acids and water insoluble
(hydrophobic )
STRUCTURE OF CELL MEMBRANE
 STRUCTURE OF CELL MEMBRANE
In many places ,the cell membrane become modified to
form microvilli and cilia for special functions.
Microvilli :increase the surface area for
absorption ,e.g:cells lining the intestine
 cilia :propel the fluid/particles in one direction.
They are motile and larger than microvilli.
Flagellum: It is a single hair like projection
from the cell surface. It is present in sperms and
is commonly called sperm tail.
Composition:
1. Proteins: 55%
2. Phospholipids: 25%
3. Cholesterol: 13%
4. Other Lipids: 4%
5. Carbohydrates: 3%
FUNCTIONS
1. Protective:
It forms outermost boundary of the cell organelles.
2. Digestive:
Takes in food materials
3. Excretion:
It excretes waste products. It helps in exocytosis and
endocytosis.
4. Property of Selective Permeability
 THE CYTOPLASM
The cellular material between the plasma
membrane and the nucleus, is the site of most
cellular activities. It consists of three
elements:
–The cytosol
–Organelles
–Inclusions.
1. The cytosol: it is the viscous, semitransparent
fluid in which the other cytoplasmic elements
are suspended.
2. The organelles are the metabolic machinery of
the cell. Each type of organelle carries out a
specific function for the cell.
3. The inclusions are chemical substances that
may or may not be present, depending on cell
type.
 NUCLEUS

• Nucleus is found in all cells except mature erythrocytes

and platelets of the blood.
• The shape is normally rounded and placed centrally.
• Nucleus contains the genetic material and influence the
metabolic activities of the cell.
• Normally each cell has single nucleus. But some cells
have two or more nuclei.eg :osteoclasts, skeletal
muscle.
 STRUCTURE OF NUCLEUS

• Nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear membrane.

• The outer part of the nuclear membrane is continuous
with endoplasmic reticulum while its inner surface
provides attachments to the end of the chromatids.
• The membrane has many gaps called nuclear pores,
through which substances can pass from the nucleus to
the cytoplasm and vice versa.
 MITOCHONDRIA

• Power of cell house

• They are found in cells
with higher metabolic
rates
• The inner membrane is
thrown into folds called
cristae ,which divides a
interior into
compartment.
 MITOCHONDRIA

• Mitochondria are the sites

of production of high
energy compounds.
(ATP,GTP).
• The dehydrogenase
enzyme present in them is
responsible for kreps
citric acid cycle,protein
and lipid synthesis.
FUNCTION:
1. It helps in oxidation of glucose.
2. Mitochondria are power generating units of the
cells (synthesis of ATP)
3. it also contain DNA and can synthesize proteins.
 RIBOSOMES
• They are small dense
granules roughly 25 mm
diameter (10-20mm)
• Each ribosome consists of
roughly 60% RNA and 40%
proteins
• They manufacture proteins
using information provided
by the DNA of the nucleus.
 RIBOSOMES
• There are two types of
ribosomes.
• Free and fixed
• free ribosomes are
scattered throughout the
cytoplasm
• Fixed ribosomes are
attached to the endoscopic
reticulum.
 ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
• The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is
a continuous membrane system
that forms a series of flattened sacs
within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic
cells.
• All eukaryotic cells contain an ER.
• The ER can be classified in two
functionally distinct forms: the
smooth endoplasmic reticulum
(SER) and the rough endoplasmic
reticulum (RER).
ROUGH ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
• It is called granular
• The membrane of these ER are
associated with minute
particles of RNA called
ribosomes.
• The presence of ribosomes
gives the membrane a rough
appearance.
• The synthesize proteins.
SMOOTH ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM
• It is called Agranular
• These ER are involved in
lipid cholesterol and CHO
metabolism .
• They are also concerned
with steroid hormone
synthesis in testes and
adrenals.
FUNCTIONS:
1. Lipid metabolism
2. Cholesterol synthesis
3. Lipoproteins
4. Synthesis of steroid based hormones such as sex
hormones
5. Absorption, synthesis and transport of fats
6. Detoxification of drugs and certain pesticides
7. Breakdown of stored glycogen to form free
glucose (liver cell especially)
 GOLGI APPARATUS
• The Golgi apparatus consists of stacks of closely folded
flattened membranous sacs.
• It is present in all cells but is larger in those that
synthesize and export proteins.
• It is a cup shaped structure and contains vesicles.
FUNCTIONS
• The proteins move from the endoplasmic reticulum to the
Golgi apparatus
• Where they are ‘packaged’ into membrane.
• The vesicles are stored and when needed, move to the
plasma membrane.
 LYSOSOMES
• These are large irregular structures
surrounded by unit membrane and are found
in the cytoplasm.
• The cell contains several hundred
lysosomes.
• Lysosomes are filled with hydrolytic
enzyme are called lysosomes.
FUNCTIONS:
1. These are the suicide bags of the cells which
contain more than dozen powerful hydrolytic
enzymes
2. It is capable of digesting proteins and fats.
3. Removal of unwanted damaged substances and
foreign bodies like bacteria
4. Destruction of bacteria and other foreign bodies.
5. Removal of excessive secretory products in the
cells of the glands.
PEROXISOMES:
• It is structure is similar to that of lysosomes.
• It release peroxidase enzyme which helps in the
decrease of the activity of oxygen derivatives like
hydrogen peroxide.
• The hydrogen peroxide is toxic to the cell.
CENTRIOLES OR CENTROSOMES:
• There are two short cylinders called centrioles.
• It is visible only during cell division.
CILIA
• They are fine, hair like extensions on the free
surface of some cells and are capable of movement.
FLAGELLA
It is a single projection from the cell surface; is larger than
cilia; “tails” of sperm cells are the only example of flagella
in humans
MICROFILAMENTS
These arc tiny strands of protein that provide structural
support and maintain the characteristic shape of the cell.
MICROTUBULES:
These are protein structures in the cytoplasm involved in the
movement of the cell and of organelles within the cell, the
movement of cilia (small projections from the free border of
some cells) and possibly the organizations of proteins in the
plasma membrane.
 Fluid Mosaic Model
(Proposed by SJ Singer And GL Nicolson in 1972)
• According to this model, the cell membrane consists of a
phospholipid bilayer. It Is made up of a polar head
(hydrophilic) and a non polar tail (hydrophobic).
• In aqueous solution phospholipids form a bilayer with the
heads directed outwards and the tails directed inwards.
• Presence of unsaturated fatty acids increases the fluidity
and the flexibility of cell membrane. Almost half of the total
mass of the cell membrane is formed of protein molecules.
• Some protein molecules are present within the cell
membrane and are known as intrinsic proteins.
• The proteins which are held at the outer aspect of cell
membrane are known as extrinsic proteins. Some
proteins occupying the entire thickness of the cell
membrane are known as trans membrane proteins.