THE CELL

BY

FARUK MAITAMA. YUSUF

Bsc. H. PHYSIOLOGY, Msc. H. PHYSIOLOGY BUK (INVIEW)
 Definition of a cell:
 basic structural and functional unit of life

 the smallest units that display the

characteristics of life, i.e. reproduction,
metabolism, response to stimuli
General Subdivisions of a
Cell
 Plasma Membrane = selectively
permeable boundary between the cell
and the environment

 Nucleus = regulatory center of the cell

 Cytoplasm = everything between the

plasma membrane and the nucleus (fluid
+ organelles)
 Plasma Membrane
1. Structure = phospholipd bilayer with
proteins embedded in, and attached to,
the inner (intracellular) and outer
(extracellular) surfaces

2. Function
a. Selectively permeable barrier: controls what
enters and leaves the cell
b. Phospholipids are liquid at body temperature,
so proteins float around in the membrane
-functions as a Fluid Mosaic
Plasma Membrane
 Plasma Membrane (2)
2. Function – continued
c. Main responsibility: ensure the composition of
extracellular fluid is not the same as the
composition of the intracellular fluid
d. Water-soluble substances (salts, nutrients) cross
membrane with aid of protein channels, which
are selective about what can pass through
e. Lipids can pass directly through bilayer by
diffusion (the random walk of molecules)
f. Attachment site of cytoskeleton, the internal
support of the cell
 Plasma Membrane (3)
3. Glycocalyx = protein and carbohydrate
coat covering the extracellular surface of
the plasma membrane
a. Allows attachment to other cells
b. Allows the cell to interact with the
environment
c. Gives each person’s cell a distinctive surface;
allows your body to recognize foreign tissues
as different from your own (i.e., blood type,
transplant rejection)
Plasma Membrane
 General Subdivisions of a
Cell
 Plasma Membrane = selectively
permeable boundary between the cell
and the environment

 Nucleus = regulatory center of the cell

 Cytoplasm = everything between the

plasma membrane and the nuclear
compartment
Cell Structure
Overview
 Nucleus
1. Nuclear Envelope (membrane)
a. Phospholipid bilayer with nuclear pores

b. Controls what enters/leaves the nucleus

-- things only go in or out by passing through
protein channels, which are selective

c. Encloses all the chromosomes

 Nucleus
2. Chromatin = all the chromosomes, which
are long strands of the molecule DNA

-- DNA regulates all cell activities, yet

never leaves the nucleus; how is
this possible?

produces RNA, short messenger

molecules
that exit through nuclear pores

RNA carries instructions out into the

cytoplasm
 Nucleus
3. Nucleolus – site of ribosome synthesis

a. compartment in the nucleus where

ribsomes
are assembled

b. ribosomes are then moved out into

cytoplasm
through nuclear pores

c. ribosomes and RNA work together

outside
the nucleus, to build all the proteins in
 Nuclear
Compartment
 Ribosomes
Ribosomes = site of protein synthesis
--assembled in the nucleolus
--exported into the cytoplasm

a. Free – unbound in the fluid cytoplasm,

produce proteins for use in the cell

b. Bound – attached to the endoplasmic

reticulum (ER), produce proteins for
export, or for the plasma membrane
 Cytoplasm + Organelles
1. Fluid portion = “cytoplasm”
a. Water with dissolved salts, nutrients and
enzymes (= proteins that do a particular job)
b. Site of many metabolic reactions

2. Cytoskeleton = network of protein fibers

extending throughout the fluid
cytoplasm
a. Support and structure for the cell
b. Very dynamic, always remodeling itself
c. Critical for cells to divide and copy
themselves
 Cell
Structure
 Organelles
1. Separate compartments within the cytoplasm
formed by membranes

2. Mitochondrion = “thread granule”, major

source of cell’s energy
a. energy is taken from sugar, stored in
molecule
called ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
b. requires oxygen to make this exchange
(aerobic metabolism)
c. contained within double membrane
Mitochondrio
n
 Organelles (2)
3. The Cytomembrane System = system of
tubes and chambers formed by membranes

a. extensively distributed throughout the

fluid
cytoplasm

b. involved in synthesis, modification,

processing & packaging of cellular lipids
and proteins
Cell Structure
 Cytomembrane System
1. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) = “within
the cytoplasm network”, a system of tubes
and sacs formed by membranes (an
enclosed space)
a) Rough = with bound ribosomes
--modifies proteins produced by the ribosomes

b) Smooth = without bound ribosomes

-doesn’t modify proteins

-functions in lipid synthesis, drug
detoxification, carbohydrate metabolism
 Cytomembrane System
(2)
2. Golgi Apparatus = series of flattened sacs
formed by membranes, functions in final
protein processing prior to use by the cell

a. proteins get shuttled from the ER to one

end
of the Golgi

b. in each sac, different modifications are

made
(proteins get individually tailored)

c. proteins get sorted and shipped off to

 Cytomembrane System
(2)
3. Vesicles = small membrane-bound
structures that transport proteins and lipids
around the cell

a. little transporters that shuttle their

contents from one organelle to another

b. when they contact the appropriate
organelle, they fuse with its outer
membrane and dump
their contents inside
c. same for plasma membrane, allowing
Vesicles move from ER to Golgi
 Cytomembrane System
(2)
4. Lysosome = membrane-bound vesicle that
contains digestive enzymes or toxic
chemicals

a. merges with vesicles containing food

particles, invading bacteria

b. harsh chemicals and enzymes degrade

the
food or bacteria, without harming rest
of cell
 THE CELL THEORY
 The Cell Theory states
that all organisms are
composed of similar units
of organization called
cells.

 Before the Cell Theory

people believed in
spontaneous
generation which means
living things come from
non living thing

Two scientist disproved

spontaneous generation
Francisco Redi proved that macroorganisms
do not spontaneously generate

People thought that  Pasture proved

maggots came from that
meat. microoganisms do
 Redi disproved this not spontaneously
in a controlled generate
experiment
 DEVELOPMENT OF CELL
THEORY
 Theodor Schwann and Matthias Schleiden
are credited with coming up with the Cell
Theory

 Theodor schwann- Animal cells

 Matthias schleiden- plant cells
 THE CELL THEOTY
1. All known living things are made up of
cells.
2. The cell is structural & functional unit of
all living things
3. All cells come from pre-existing cells by
division.
(No spontaneous generation ).
 MICROSCOPE
 The Cell Theory would not exist if it
wasn’t for the development of the
microscope and the work of others.
 BASIC TYPES OF CELL
 Prokaryotic Cells  Eukaryotic Cells
Mainly single Mainly
celled organisms multicellular
organisms,
although some
are single celled
(amoeba,algae,
yeast)
 PROKARYOTIC CELL
 Prokaryotes have
no membrane
bound organelles.
 Example –
bacteria cell
 EUKARYOTIC CELLS
 Eukaryotes –
contain
membrane bound
organelles
 Example – plant
and animal cells
 ORGANELLS
 An organelle is a small specialized
structure inside of a cell.
 An example of an organelle is the nucleus
which controls cell functions.
 CELL JUNCTION
 The plasma membranes of adjacent cells
are usually separated by extracellular
fluid that allow transport of nutrient and
other wastes substances to and from
bloodstream.
 The membrane adjacent cell join and
formed a junction known as cell
junction.
TYPES OF CELLS JUNCTION
1. Desmosomes : are protein attachments
between adjacent cells. It bears a disk-
shaped
structure from which protein fibers
extend in to the cytoplasm.
it act like spot welds to hold together
tissues that undergo considerable. E.g
skin, heart muscles
 CONT.
 2. Tight junctions: are tightly stitched seams
between cells. The junction completely
encircles each cell, preventing the movement
of ions and molecules from one cell to another.

 3. Gap junction : Gap junction is the

intercellular junction that allows passage of
ions and smaller molecules between the
cells. It is also called nexus. It is present in
heart, basal
 part of epithelial cells of intestinal mucosa, etc
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
OF CELL
A. Needs nutrition and oxygen
B. Produces its own energy necessary for its
growth.
C. Eliminates carbondioxide and other
metabolic waste
D. Maintains the medium i.e the
environment for its survival.
E. Shows immediate response to the entry
of invaders like bacteria or toxic
substances to the body.
F. Reproduces by division. But there are
exception like neuron
 TRANSPORT ACROSS CELL
MEMBRANE
 Presentation Assignment
 CELL DIVISION

 THANKS FOR LISTENING