Cell What Defines a Cell?

Cells are considered the basic units of life in part because

All living creatures are composed of cells, the basic unit
they come in discrete and easily recognizable packages. That's
of life. For survival, the cell performs various activities. It
because all cells are surrounded by a structure called the cell
grows, reproduces and matures. It is generally accepted that
membrane which, much like the walls of a house, serves as a
there are two types of cells: eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.
clear boundary between the cell's internal and external
Eukaryotic cells are generally larger and have a very distinct
environments. The cell membrane is sometimes also referred to
nucleus clearly surrounded by a nuclear envelope. They also
as the plasma membrane. Cell membranes are based on a
have numerous membrane-bound organelles found in the
framework of fat-based molecules called phospholipids, which
cytoplasm. Histones, proteins associated with genetic material,
physically prevent water loving, or hydrophilic, substances from
are also present. Prokaryotic cells lack a nuclear envelope and
entering or escaping the cell. These membranes are also studded
membrane-bound organelles; an example is the bacterial cell.
with proteins that serve various functions. Some of these
(E.V. Evangelista, L. T. Evangelista & L. V. Evangelista, 2013)
proteins act as gatekeepers, determining what substances can
Learning Objective and cannot cross the membrane. Others function as markers,

At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to: identifying the cell as part of the same organism or as foreign.
Still others work like fasteners, binding cells together so they
❖ - Explain structure and characteristics of human
can function as a unit. Yet other membrane proteins serve as
cell
communicators, sending and receiving signals from neighboring
❖ - Describe movements of particles across cell
cells and the environment whether friendly or alarming. Within
membrane
this membrane, a cell's interior environment is water based.
❖ - Discuss organelles of human cell & their
Called cytoplasm, this liquid environment is packed full of
function
cellular machinery and structural elements. In fact, the
concentrations of proteins inside a cell far outnumber those on Scientists to Remember
the outside whether the outside is ocean water (as in the case of
▪ Robert Hooke (1665) – Observed “cells” in cork
a single-celled alga) or blood serum (as in the case of a red blood
cell). Although cell membranes form natural barriers in watery
environments, a cell must nonetheless expend quite a bit of
energy to maintain the high concentrations of intracellular
constituents necessary for its survival. Indeed, cells may use as
much as 30 percent of their energy just to maintain the
composition of their cytoplasm.

The cell is the functional basic unit of life. It was

discovered by Robert Hooke and is the functional unit of all
known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is ▪ Anton van Leeuwenhoek (1674)- Father of Microscopy
classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block - Saw tiny living things in pond water.
of life. Some organisms, such as most bacteria, are unicellular
(consist of a single cell). Other organisms, such as humans, are
multicellular. Humans have about 100 trillion cells. (E.V.
Evangelista, L. T. Evangelista & L. V. Evangelista, 2013)

Cork cell as observed by Robert Hooke the descriptive

term for the smallest living biological structure was coined by
Robert Hooke in a book he published in 1665 when he compared
the cork cells he saw through his microscope to the small rooms
monks lived in.
 ▪ Matthias Schleiden (1838) – Plants are made of cells.
▪ Theodor Schwann (1839) – Animals are made of cells.

▪ Rudolf Virchow (1855) – New cells come from existing

▪ Janet Plowe (1931) – Cell membrane is a physical
structure.
▪ Lynn Margulis (1970) – Organelles were once free-
living cells.

Cell Theory explains about:

a) All living organisms are composed of cell and cell products.  Electron Microscope – magnifies up to a million times.
b) Cell is the basic unit of structure & function of all living -Uses electrons
organisms.

c) All cells come from the division of preexisting cell.

d) An organism as a whole can be understood through the

collective activities & interactions of its cells.

Microscopes

 Light Microscope – magnifies tiny organisms up to

1,000 times.

-Uses light and lenses.

-We use these.

Two Types of Cells 3. Have membrane bound Organelles (golgi, ER,
lysosomes…etc)
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic. Prokaryotic cells are those
cells which have nuclear material without nuclear membrane. 4. DNA – double-stranded and forms chromosomes (highly
For ex- bacteria and blue green algae. The cell having well- organized)
organized nucleus with a nuclear membrane are called
5. Can be uni- OR multicellular organisms
eukaryotic cells. For ex- onion cells and cheek cells.
6. Ex: animals, plants, fungi
Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes

1. NO nucleus
1. Has a nucleus with a nuclear envelope
2. NO membrane bound organelles (just ribosomes)
2. Bigger and more complex than prokaryotes
3. ALL are unicellular
 4. Smaller than eukaryotic cells

5. Forerunner to eukaryotic cells (smaller and simpler)

6. DNA – single strand and circular

7. Ex: ALL Bacteria

Similarities

1. Contain all four biomolecules (lipids, carbs, proteins,

and nucleic acids)
Four Principal Parts:
1. Have ribosomes
▪ Plasma (cell) membrane
2. Have DNA ▪ Cytoplasm
▪ Organelles
3. Similar Metabolism
▪ Inclusions
4. Can be unicellular Plasma (Cell) Membrane

5. Have cell/plasma membranes or cell wall - It is the outer lining, limiting membrane separating

Eukaryote VS. Prokaryote Picture the cell internal parts from extra cellular materials &
external environment.
- A thin outer membrane, which maintains the
integrity of the cell. It keeps the cell and its contents
separate and distinct from the surrounding. It is a
double layered measuring about 4.5 nm and made of
 phospholipids, cholesterol, glyco-lipid, &
carbohydrate (oligosaccharides). The bi-layer is self-
sealing. If a needle is injected and pulled out, it
automatically seals. (Nega Assefa & Yosief Tsige,
2003)
Functions:

1. Separate the cytoplasm inside a cell from extra cellular

fluid.

2. Separate cell from one another

3. Provide an abundant surface on which chemical

reaction can occur. Passive Movement

4. Regulate the passage of materials in to and out of cells. Includes:

It also let some things in and keeps others out. The a. Simple diffusion, the random movements of
quality selective permeability. molecules from area of high concentration to the area of

Movement Across-Cell Membrane low concentration. Example air in alveoli of lung. (Nega
Assefa & Yosief Tsige, 2003)
Two ways:
b. Facilitated diffusion, larger molecules, which are not
▪ Passive movement uses energy
soluble in lipid need protein channel to pass through the
▪ Active movement consumes energy in the form of ATP.
plasma membrane. No direct energy needed. Example: -
Amino acid passes through the cell membrane.
 d. Filtration, small molecules pass through selectively
c. Osmosis, a special type of diffusion referring to the
permeable membrane in response to force of pressure.
passage of water through a selectively permeable
Example: - filtration in the kidney in the process of urine
membrane from an area of high water concentration to
formation.
lower water concentration.
Active Movements across Membranes

Substances move through a selectively permeable

membrane from areas of low concentration on side of a
membrane to an area of higher concentration on the other side.
This is against concentration gradient. Therefore, it requires
energy. (Nega Assefa & Yosief Tsige, 2003)
a) Active Transport: till equilibrium substances could b) Endocytosis, pocketing in by plasma membrane. It
more by passive movement. But if equilibrium includes: Pinocytosis – cell drinking Receptor –
reached and still more molecules are needed, they mediated Endocytosis- Endocytosis with the help of
must be pumped through the membrane against receptor. Phagocytosis- cell eating.
concentration gradient. This process requires the use
of ATP. One example of such processes is Sodium –
potassium pump and calcium pump. In this process
all follows similar process. These are molecules bind
to carrier protein, molecule- carrier complex pass
through the membrane, assisted by an enzyme &
ATP and carrier protein returns to its original shape
& repeat the process.
c) Exocytosis, opposite to Endocytosis, to remove out
undigested particles.
 that remain suspended in the surrounding medium. (Nega Assefa
& Yosief Tsige, 2003)

Organelles

Organelles are specialized portion of the cell with a

characteristic shape that assume specific role in growth,
maintenance, repair and control. (Nega Assefa & Yosief Tsige,
2003)

Types of organelles

▪ Nucleus, Oval in shape and is the largest

structure in the cell. Contain the hereditary factor
Cytoplasm
in the cell. Hence it controls cell activity &
Cytoplasm is a matrix or ground substance in which structure. Most cell contain single nucleus but
various cellular components are found. It is thick some like matured Red Blood cell do not contain.
semitransparent, elastic fluid containing suspended particles and However, Muscle cell contain several nucleuses.
a series of minute tubules and filaments that form cytoskeleton. The nucleus separated from other cell structure
Water constitutes 75-90% of the cytoplasm. It also contains solid by double membrane called nuclear membrane.
components, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and inorganic Pores over the nuclear membrane allow the
substances. The inorganic components exist as solutions nucleus to communicate with the cytoplasm. In
because they are soluble in water. The majority of organic the nucleus a jelly like fluid that fill the nucleus
substances however are found as colloids. Colloids are particles is karyolymph (nucleoplasm), which contain the
genetic material called chromosome. Nucleus
 also contain dark, somewhat spherical, non- ▪ Golgi complex, near to the nucleus. It consists
membrane bound mass called nucleolus. It 4-8 membranous sacs. It processes, sort, pack &
contains DNA, RNA and protein, which assist in deliver protein to various parts of the cell.
the construction of ribosome. ▪ Mitochondria, a small, spherical, rod shaped or
▪ Ribosome, tiny granules, composed of filamentous structure. It generates energy. Each
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA). They are site of protein mitochondrion possesses two membrane, one is
synthesis. smooth (upper) membrane and the other is
▪ Endoplasmic reticulum is a double membrane arranged with series of folds called cristae. The
channel. It is continuous with the nuclear central cavity of a mitochondrion enclosed by the
membrane. It involved in intracellular exchange inner membrane is the matrix.
of material with the cytoplasm. Various products ▪ Lysosomes appear as membrane enclosed
are transported from one portion of the cell to spheres. They are formed from Golgi complexes
another via the endoplasmic reticulum. So, it is & have single membrane. They contain powerful
considered as intracellular transportation. It is digestive (hydrolytic Human Anatomy and
also storage for synthesized molecules. Together Physiology 24 enzyme capable of breaking down
with the Golgi complex it serves as synthesis & many kinds of molecules. The lysosomal enzyme
packaging center. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is believed to be synthesized in the granular
divided in to two. These are, granular E.R. endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex.
Containing granule and involving in synthesis of ▪ The cyto-skeleton, the cytoplasm has a complex
protein and a granular E.R. that synthesize lipid internal structure consisting of a series of
& involves in detoxification. exceedingly small microfilaments, microtubule
 & intermediate filaments together referred to as
the cyto-skeleton.
▪ Centrosome, a dense area of cytoplasm
generally spherical and located near the nucleus
it contain centrioles. It also contains DNA that
controls their replication. Centrosomes are made
of microtubules, which seam drinking straws.
They are Involved in the movement of
chromosome during cell division.
▪ Cilia/flagella, thread like appendages, which are
made of microtubules. When they are beating
forms rhythmic movement. They are found in
female reproductive organ and upper respiratory
tube.
▪ Peroxisomes, Microbodies are a diverse group of
organelles that are found in the cytoplasm,
roughly spherical and bound by a single
membrane. There are several types of
microbodies but peroxisomes are the most
common.