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THEHUMANCELL

BACK TOBASICS

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Theres a great line in the 1992 childrens movieFerngullythat really encompasses this eBook:

Were worlds within worlds.

Despite their small size(youd need a microscope

to get a good look), cellsare incredibly complex andconstantly busy.

Your entire bodyis made

of cells, all programmed toperform certain functions.

Lets take a look at theinner workings of a few!

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Cytosolis a gel-like substance that is mostly water,with various dissolved and suspended components,

like glucose, proteins, and amino acids.

Cytosol is also known asintracellular fluid (ICF) and

is the fluid component ofcytoplasm.

Fun Fact:While it is known that cytosol is

mostly water, what isnt knownis its structure and propertieswithin cells.

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The plasma membraneis a flexible, semi-permeable barrier that separates the cell

interior from its surroundings.

The barrier is constructedof a phospholipid bilayer,and its components allow

for certain materials topass in and out of the cell.

Proteins embedded within thephospholipid bilayer carry out the

specific functions of the plasmamembrane, including selectivetransport of molecules and cellcell recognition.

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The Organelles

Smooth endoplasmicreticulum

Rough endoplasmic

reticulumNucleus

Mitochondrion

Golgi complex

Plasma membrane

Peroxisome

Lysosome

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The nucleusis a large organelle that containsthe cells genetic information.

The nucleolusis the largest structure within a nucleus, and containsa cluster of protein and ribonucleic acid (RNA). It is involved withribosome formation and the ribosomal RNA synthesis.

Fun Fact #1:Most cells have at leastone nucleus, and some(like mature red bloodcells) have none at all!

Nucleolus

Fun Fact #2:Nucleus is Latin for

little kernel and its firstrecorded use in terms ofcells was in 1831.

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The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a networkof membrane-enclosed sacs that package andtransport materials for cellular growth and

other functions.

Rough ER

Smooth ER

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Smooth ER extends from the rough ER andsynthesizes lipids, steroids, and phospholipids,

as well as many other metabolic processes.

Cells in the testes, ovaries, and oil glands in theskin have a great deal of smooth ER.

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Rough ER plays an important role in the packagingand synthesis of proteins. It is rough due to the

ribosomes that stud the ER membrane.

In some white blood cells (leukocytes), rough ER producesantibodies. In the pancreas, it produces insulin.

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Ribosomes contain more than 50 proteins anda high concentration of ribosomal RNA. Theirmain function is protein synthesis; these proteinsare used by the cell, the plasma membrane,

or structures outside the cell.

Some ribosomes float freely in the cytosol

Some ribosomes are bound to the ER

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The Golgi complex consists of 3 to 20 curvedcisternae (flattened, membranous sacs), and itacts as a processing hub for proteins produced in

the endoplasmic reticulum.

Enzymesin thecisternae modify theproteins and pack theminto transfer vesicles,which then transport

them to different areas

in the cell.

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Mitochondria are the powerhouses of a cell.Using the oxygen taken in by the cell, mitochondriaproduceATP, a molecule used as fuel for energy.

Depending on the typeof cell and its function,

there can be anywhere

from a few hundredmitochondriato severalthousand.

Fun Fact:

In Madeleine LEngles youngadult novelA Wind in the Door,

the main characters travelinside a mitochondrion named

Yadah, and interact with fictionalstructures called farandolae.

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Peroxisomesprocess andneuralize toxins within the cell.

Lysosomescontain digestive enzymes that break downsubstances consumed by the cell and recycle waste.

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Just to give you an idea of how small cells are...

An ovum is the largestcell in the body at1.2 x 10-4meters.

In the right conditions,it can be seen without a

microscope.

A red blood cellclocks in at 7 x 10-6meters.

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Width of a human hair

Worlds within worlds.

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Get a head start with ANATOMY& PHYSIOLOGY.

Available for:

All the images and most of the content are from Anatomy & Physiology, an app that visually

and interactively engages users in the core concepts of an undergraduate A&P course.

iPad|PC|Mac|Android|Windows Touch|Site License

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