HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY

Cells
Prepared by: Ms. Jonna Karla C. Bien, RN

Four major categories of tissues and their location, structure, and function

Cells vary in size from 2 micrometers to over a meter ( like in nerve cells)

Cells have many different shapes. Some example shapes:

disk-shaped

Some have threadlike extensions

 toothpick like

 cube like

 Cells have many different functions. Some examples:

White blood cells wander freely

through our body independent of each other. They defend our body from foreign substances like bacteria

 Some cells make hormones or chemicals to regulate other cells

Some help exchange gases in the lungs Some cleanse the blood (kidney tubule cells)

 Cell Theory:
The cell is the unit of structure of all living things

The cell is the unit of function of all living things

All cells come from pre-existing cells

 Remember that all cell types are not exactly like each other, they do often have some basic parts and functions that are common to all cells. There are three main regions to a cell

1.nucleus 2.cytoplasm 3.plasma membrane

Cell Diversity Specialized Cells

Cells that connect body parts

Fibroblast- this type of cell secretes cable-like fibers. It has plenty of rough ER and large Golgi Apparatus. These structures are necessary to secrete the proteins that are the building blocks of the cable-like fiber structures

 Cells that cover and line body organs

Epithelial cells - shaped much like the honeycomb of a beehive. This allows the cells to be acked into sheets. It has abundant intermediate filaments that resist being torn when they are rubbed or pulled

 Cells that move organs and body parts Muscle cells ( skeletal and smooth) these are elongated cells with numerous contractile filaments. These filaments are able to contract to move bones or change the size of internal organs

 Cell that store nutrients

Fat cells- these contain a large lipid droplet in their cytoplasm. This results in their large spherical shape.

 Cells that fight disease Macrophages- This type of cell extends large psuedopods to crawl through tissue to reach sites of infection. The lysosomes within the cell digest the microorganisms that it engulfs. A macrophage is a type of phagocytic cell

Cells that gather information and control body functions

Neurons (Nerve cells)- This type of cell is equipped with long processes for the reception of messages. The cell can then transmit these messages to other structures found in the body. The processes are covered wit an extensive plasma membrane

 Cells of reproduction
Oocyte (the egg cell)- This is the largest cell in the human body. It contains many copies of all organelles. These are ready to be distributed to the daughter cells that would result from fertilization. Sperm - It is built for swimming. It has a long flagellum that enables it to swim.