Human Anatomy and Physiology (BSCI 4001)

Lesson 3: Cell
Structures and Their
Functions

Prepared by Arianne V. Julian

 Contents

1. Cell Structure
2. Functions of the Cell
3. Cell Membrane
4. Movement Through the Cell Membrane
5. Organelles
6. Whole-Cell Activity
 1. Cell Structure
Cell
• the basic living unit of all organisms
• human body is composed of trillions of cells and
acts as a host to countless other organisms
• within cells, specialized structures called
organelles perform specific functions
1. Cell Structure
 2. Functions of the Cell
1. Cell metabolism and energy use
2. Synthesis of molecules
3. Communication
4. Reproduction and inheritance
 3. Cell Membrane
• the outermost component of a cell
• encloses the cytoplasm and forms the boundary
between material inside the cell and material
outside it
• supports the cell contents
– Extracellular substances- outside the cell
– Intracellular substances- inside the cell
 3. Cell Membrane
Cell membrane
 4. Movement Through the Cell
Membrane
• Cell membranes are selectively permeable
• Intracellular substances- enzymes, glycogen,
and potassium ions (K+)
• Extracellular substances- Na+, Ca2+, and Cl−
 4. Movement Through the Cell
Membrane
Movement through the cell membrane may be:
• Passive membrane transport
– does not require the cell to expend energy
– include diffusion, osmosis, and facilitated diffusion
• Active membrane transport
– does require the cell to expend energy, usually in
the form of ATP
– include active transport, secondary active transport,
endocytosis, and exocytosis
4. Movement Through the Cell
Membrane
 5. Organelles
Nucleus
• large organelle usually located near the center
of the cell
• the nuclei of human cells contain 23 pairs of
chromosomes which consist of DNA and
proteins
 5. Organelles
Nucleus
DNA
 5. Organelles
Nucleus
 5. Organelles
Nucleus
 5. Organelles
Ribosomes
• organelles where proteins are produced
• may be attached to other organelles, such as
the endoplasmic reticulum
 5. Organelles
Rough and Smooth 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 to it)- a large
amount of rough ER in a cell indicates that it is
synthesizing large amounts of protein
– Smooth ER (without ribosomes)- a site for lipid
synthesis and participates in detoxification of
chemicals within cells
 5. Organelles
Rough and Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum
 5. Organelles
Golgi Apparatus
• consists of closely packed stacks of curved,
membrane-bound sacs
• collects, modifies, packages, and distributes
proteins and lipids manufactured by the ER
 5. Organelles
Golgi Apparatus
 5. Organelles
Secretory Vesicles
• a small, membrane-bound sac that transports or
stores materials within cells
• its membrane fuses with the cell membrane,
and the contents of the vesicle are released to
the exterior of the cell
 5. Organelles
Lysosomes and Peroxisomes
• Lysosomes
– membrane-bound vesicles formed from the Golgi
apparatus
– contain a variety of enzymes that function as
intracellular digestive systems
• Peroxisomes
– small, membrane-bound vesicles containing
enzymes that break down fatty acids, amino acids,
and hydrogen peroxide
 5. Organelles
Lysosomes and Peroxisomes
 5. Organelles
Mitochondria
• small organelles with inner and outer
membranes separated by a space
• the major sites of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
production within cells
– ATP is the main energy source for most chemical
reactions within the cell
 5. Organelles
Mitochondria
 5. Organelles
Cytoskeleton
• consists of proteins that support the cell, hold
organelles in place, and enable the cell to
change shape
– Microtubules- hollow rods functioning primarily to
help support and shape the cell
– Microfilaments- solid rods and have active function
in muscle contraction
– Intermediate filaments- provide mechanical support
to the cell
 5. Organelles
Cytoskeleton
 5. Organelles
Centrioles
• small, cylindrical organelles composed of
microtubules joined together
• play an important role in cell division
 5. Organelles
Cilia, Flagella, and Microvilli
• Cilia- move in a rhythmic, sweeping motion and
serve to move particles or cells in your body
(cells in the respiratory tract)
• Flagella- for locomotion (e.g. sperm cells)
• Microvilli- found in areas of the body which are
specialized for absorption (cells in digestive tract
or kidneys)
5. Organelles
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
DNA Replication
• the process by which DNA makes a copy of itself
during cell division
• DNA must be replicated in order to ensure that
each new cell receives the correct number
of chromosomes
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
Gene Expression
• protein synthesis
• describes the flow of genetic information: DNA
encodes RNA, RNA encodes protein
• Two Steps:
1. Transcription
2. Translation
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
Gene Expression
1. Transcription
• process in which genetic instructions in DNA are
copied to form a complementary strand of
mRNA
• Site: nucleus
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
Gene Expression
2. Translation
• process in which genetic instructions in mRNA
are decoded to synthesize a protein
• Site: ribosome in the cytoplasm
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
Gene Expression
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
Cell Cycle
• an ordered series of events involving cell growth
and cell division that produces two new
daughter cells
• includes two major phases:
– Interphase
– Cell division
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
Cell Cycle
Interphase
• cell spends most of its life cycle in interphase
performing its normal functions
• the DNA is replicated
 6. Whole-Cell Activity
Cell Cycle
Cell Division
• the formation of daughter cells from a single
parent cell
• Types:
– Mitosis- process in which new cells necessary for
growth and tissue repair are formed
– Meiosis- the sex cells are formed through
• 4 phases of mitosis:
– prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase
6. Whole-Cell Activity
6. Whole-Cell Activity
Reference: Seeley’s Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology 9th Edition