Facts about the anatomy and physiology of the cell

THE anatomy and physiology of the CELL

The cell is the basic living, structural and functional unit of the human body

It is the activity within the cell which constitutes what is called life

FUNCTION

To produce protein to:

Work

Replace itself for growth, repair and renewal

Breakdown in the proper functioning of cells is the basis of disease

ANATOMY Made up of:

80% water
15% protein
3% lipids (fats)
1% carbohydrates
1% nucleic acid and minerals

All cells have a similar basic construction

THE CELL CONSTRUCTION

CELL MEMBRANE

Porous sandwich of fat and protein

RIBOSOMES

Controls construction of essential proteins needed by cells for repair and renewal

GOLGI APPARATUS

Packages proteins that the ribosomes have made

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

Internal transport system of the cell

LYSOSOMES

Sacs filled with enzymes

NUCLEUS

Embedded in the Cytoplasm

·Supervises cell activity – the ‘brain’ of the cell

Surrounded by nuclear membrane

MITOCHONDRIA

“The Powerhouse of the cell!”   Converts oxygen and nutrients into energy through action of enzymes

CYTOPLASM

Jelly like “filling” made of 70~80% water

CHROMOSOME (found within nucleus)

Begin as structures called chromatids which are two parallel filaments joined together at the centromere

Made up of strands of DNA.  Small parts of these DNA strands are called genes

There are 46 chromosomes in 23 pairs in every cell (except sperm and ovum)

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