cytology Flashcards
What does a general cell consist of?
Outer border- PLASMA MEMBRANE which surrounds the CYTOPLASM containing ORGANELLES, the most prominent of which is NUCLEUS
What is the measurement for cm to m
cm x 10 -2m
What are the 3 main functions of a cell membrane?
Intergrity of cell- not generally permeable e.g different surfaces of epithelial cells have different permeabilities
Specific regulation of passage of molecules e.g selective and specific gates
Communication site- receptors for molecules in extracellular fluid for e.g hormones, neurotransmitters and drugs
What are the 4 elements which make up the structure of the plasma membrane?
1) bilayer of phospholipid molecules
2) protein molecules
3) cholestrol molecules
4) sugar groups attached to the surface which is - Glycocalyx
What is the phospholipid bilayer composed of?
Hydrophillic head which is polar and soluble in water- polar phosphate head
Hydrophobic tail which is non-polar and insoluble in water- 2 fatty acid tails
When both molecules hydrophillic and hydrophobic what are they known as?
Amphipathic
What are the important consequence of this amphipathic property?
IF the bilayer (membrane) has been disrupted it will automatically reform into a bilayer.
Have dual polarity
What is the main role of cholesterol?
-Stabilise the phospholipid bilayer by immoblising the first few hydrocarbon groups of the phospholipid molecules. This makes the lipid bilayer less deformable and descreases its permeability to small water soluble molecules.
What does cholesterol PREVENT from happening?
prevents the hydrocarbon chains from joining and crystalizing so it is still fluid and able to maintain its flexibility.
What are the 2 membrane proteins and what are their functions?
Integral proteins- they are span across the membrane and many act as a gate for passage of molecules
or they can be components of receptors- firmly anchroed between fatty acid tails- allows certain substance in and out
Peripheral proteins- are bound to one face or other - ‘anchors’- sit on the inner or outer surface of the plasma membrane- attached to the polar heads of phospholipid- most are glycoproteins forming glycocalyx
State the 6 functions of membrane proteins
Transport Enzymatic activity Receptors for signal transduction Intercellular joining cell-cell recognition attachment to cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix
How does a glycocalyx have a role to play in cell- cell recognition?
it enable sperm to recognise egg cell
it signals which cells should be destroyed by phagocytosis
determines ABO blood group of red blood cells
What does glycocalyx act as?
Acts as a specific marker for a cell.
What is the structure and positioning of a glycocalyx?
carbohydrate attached to a intergral protein
Explain the function of membrane proteins - Transport :
Transport- acts as a hydrophillic channel across the membrane that is selective for a particular solute.
Some ATP is hydrolysed as an energy source to actively pump molecules across the membrane
What are the 3 main junctions between cells?
- Sticky glycoproteins on cell surface
- Mechanical juncions
- specialised cell-cell junctions
What are the 2 main mechanical junctions?
Ball and socket joint between lens fibres- they lock together
Tongue and groove- they can slide across eachother as interwined
What are the 3 specialised cell-cell junctions?
Occluding (tight)
Anchoring (desmosomes)
Gap
What are occluding junctions ?
They are when adjacent protein molecules from opposing plasma membranes fuse which seal the space between cells, preventing the passage of molecules
What are anchoring junctions?
they are adhering junctions or desmosomes where adjacent cells are joined by fibres from cells of the cyoskeleton.
What are the properties of anchoring junctions?
They are very robust and are common in places with severe mechanical stress for e.g skin epithelium, cardiac muscle and uterus
What is a belt desmosome?
if the desmosome goes along way around the cell
What is a spot desmosome?
if the desmosome goes along a small area
WHat is a hemidesmosome?
when the cytoplasm is linked to the membrane
What is a gap junction and give an example of where they can be present?
adjacent cells which are joined by their membrane protein but these allow cytoplasmic contiunity between the cell. This means certain molecules/ions can pass from one cell to another directly.
An example of where they can be present is in the lens as the lens has no blood supply so it recieves its nutrients from the aqeuous humour which is stored in the anterior chamber. The cells that make up the lens are therfore gap junctions so nutrients can diffuse from the lens surface to cells in its interior.
What is the 4 things a cytoplasm is composed of?
1) Cytosol- which is viscous fluid content of the cell with other components suspened in it. It is largely made up of water but alongside sugars, proteins and salts etc
2) Cytoskeleton- which is suspended within the cytosol
3) Membrane bound organelles- individual structures which carry out specific functions e.g mitochondria for energy
4) Inclusions- substances which are found in some cells but not in others such as melanin in retinal pigment
What are the 5 things a cytoskeleton does?
Imparts shape to cell essential for cell division regulates the movement of organelles responsible for whole cell movement provides framework to organise enzyme reactions
WHat are the 3 components of cytoskeleton?
Actin filaments
mircotubules
intermediate filaments