Intro to Cells - 1a Flashcards
(26 cards)
What are the 3 basic parts of a cell?
Nucleus: The prominent ‘brain’ of the cell
Plasma membrane: The ‘skin’ of the cell
Cytoplasm: The ‘inside stuff’ of the cell
How many different cells do we have in the body?
There are about 200 different types of cells in our body. They vary in size, shape, and cytoplasmic composition, based on their purpose in the body.
What is a Neuron?
Neurons (nerve cells) re designed to rapidly conduct electrical signals and communicate information to other cells over long distances. They have long processes to help with this function.
What is The Ovum?
The ovum (female sex cell/egg) is the largest cell in the human body.
The ovum needs everything required to make a new human, except for the half of the genetics that a sperm provides. In a way, you could think of it as ‘packing for two’.
What is a Phagocyte?
An ’eating cell’) - immune cell that roams body tissues, cleaning up damage and often foreign or harmful substances – by engulfing.
It’s designed with a flexible outside (plasma membrane) for engulfing substances and is full of substances that break down whatever it engulfs (enzymes).
Where do all cells arise from?
Stem Cells!
Some stem cells (e.g. in the embryo) can become any body cell, while other stem cells (e,g, in bone marrow) have a narrower range of potential.
Here is a photo of a nucleus:
What is a Nucleus?
The brain of the cell.
It is a spherical or oval shaped structure within the cell, usually one of the most prominent features of the cell. Most cells in our body have a single nucleus.
What does a Nucleus do?
A nucleus of a cell controls the cellular structure and functions. It produces protein-making ribosomes and contains the genetic information of our body in the form of a DNA molecule.
Parts of the nucleus:
What is a Chromatin?
Chromatin is a collection of DNA, proteins and some RNA within the nucleus.
Parts of the nucleus:
What is a Nucleolus/nucleoli?
These spherical bodies consist of clusters of proteins and nucleic acids (i.e DNA and RNA).
Nucleoli are the sites for synthesis of ribosomes, the protein-making organelles in a cell.
Parts of the nucleus:
What is a Nuclear pore?
Nuclear pores are the multiple openings that extend through the nuclear envelope.
Formed by a circular arrangement of proteins, they control the movement of substances between the nucleus and the cytoplasm.
Parts of the nucleus:
What is a Nuclear envelope?
The nuclear envelope is a double layered membrane that surrounds the nucleus and separates it from the cytoplasm (essentially the rest of the cell). The outer layer of the nuclear envelope connects to another part of the cell called the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
What is a Cytoplasm?
Cytoplasm consists of all the cellular contents within the cell, between the nucleus and the plasma membrane.
What are the 2 components of a Cytoplasm?
Organelles & Cytosol.
What is an Organelle (in a cytoplasm)?
Latin for “little organs”
These are tiny structures within the cell that have characteristic shape and specific purpose.
What is a Cytosol (in a Cytoplasm)?
Latin for “cell solution”
This is the fluid portion of the cytoplasm that surrounds the organelles. Usually that fluid is jelly-like in consistency.
What is Cytosol also known as?
Intracellular fluid.
Surrounds the organelles of the cell. It makes up ~55% of total cell volume.
What is the composition of Cytosol?
Primarily water with some additional components suspended or dissolved in it, including:
Ions (such as sodium, potassium etc)
Glucose (building blocks of carbohydrates)
Amino acids (building blocks of proteins)
Lipids (fats) and fatty acids (building blocks of fats)
Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP (a short-term form of energy storage)
Waste products (such as lactic acid or carbon dioxide).
What are examples of Cell storage?
Short term - glycogen is a short to medium term storage for sugar (for energy) in muscle cells.
Long term - fat cells contain lipid droplets that store fat (for energy), often for the medium to very long term
What is a Cytoskeleton?
The Cells skeleton.
A network of protein filaments (long thin protein strands) that contribute to structure, stability and sometimes movement of the cell.
What are the 3 types of Cytoskeleton?
Microfilaments: Movement and microstructure
Microtubules: Strong moving framework
Intermediate filaments: Resilience and stabilisation
What are the 3 basic parts of a cell?
Nucleus, cytoplasm and plasma membrane
