Chapter 3: Cells: The Living Units Flashcards
Cells
Structural units of all living things
Describe Cell Theory
1) A cell is the BASIC structural and functional UNIT OF LIVING ORGANISMS
2) The ACTIVITY of an organism depends on both the individual and combined activities of its cells
3) BIOCHEMICAL ACTIVITIES of cells are dictated by their SHAPES or forms and the relative number of the sub cellular structures they contain
4) Cells come from OTHER CELLS
Generalized/ Composits Cell
All cells have the same basic parts and some common functions
What are the 3 main parts of a cell?
1) Plasma Membrane
2) Cytoplasm
3) Nucleus
Extracellular materials
Substances contributing to body mass that are found outside the cells
What are the classes of Extracellular materials?
- Body fluids
- Cellular secretions
- Extracellular matrix
Body Fluids (also called extracellular fluids)
Important transport and dissolving media
• Interstitial Fluid
• Blood Plasma
• Cerebrospinal Fluid
Interstitial Fluid
The fluid in tissues that bathes all of our cells and has major and endless roles to play
• Rich, nutritious “soup” (ingredients: amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, regulatory substances and wastes)
• Each cell must extract from this to stay healthy
Cellular Secretion
Substances that aid in digestion and some act as lubricants (saliva, mucus…)
Extracellular Matrix
• Most abundant extracellular material
• Universal Cell “glue”- holds body cells together
1) Body cells are in contact with proteins and polysaccharides (secreted by cells)
2) Molecules self-assemble into organized mesh
Describe the cell membrane
- Lipid Bilayer
* Protein molecules
What are the lipids of the membrane?
1) Phospholipids
2) Glycolipids
3) Cholesterol
Describe the phospholipids
- Polar head is charged and hydrophilic
* Non Polar tail has 2 fatty acid chains and is hydrophobic
Describe the movement of Phospholipids
Move freely side to side
Glycolipids
Lipids with attached sugar groups
- 5% of total membrane lipids
Cholesterol
- 20% of membrane
- Polar region: Hydroxyl
- Non polar: Fused ring system
• Stabilizes membrane
• Decreases mobility of phospholipids and fluids
Membrane Proteins Functions
• Allows cell to communicate w/ environment
- 1/2 plasma mass
• Specialized membrane functions
What are the 2 distinct populations of proteins?
1) Integral
2) Peripheral
Integral Proteins
- Firmly inserted in membrane
- Some protrude one side, Most protrude both (transmembrane proteins)
• Have Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic regions - Can interact with Non-Polar lipid tails and water in/out of cell
Transmembrane Proteins
• Protrude both sides of membrane
- Some transport and provide channels: Water-soluble molecules or ions pass
- Some carry: bind to substance and move through membrane
- Enzymes
- Receptors for hormones
Signal transduction
A process where chemical messengers relay messages to the cell interior
Peripheral Proteins
- Not embedded in membrane
- Attach loosely to integral proteins and can be easily removed
Glycocalyx
Consists of glycoproteins and glycolipids that form a fuzzy, sticky, carbohydrate-rich area at the cell surface
- enriched by glycolipids and glycoproteins secreted by the cell
- *Provides highly specific biological markers by which approaching cells recognize each other; Ex: Sperm recognizes an ovum
What 3 factors act to bind cells together?
1) Glycoproteins in the glyocalyx act an adhesive
2) Wavy contours of the membranes of adjacent cells fit together in a tongue-and-groove fashion
3) Special cell junction form