Histology Flashcards
Features common to all Eukaryotic Cells
- Outer membrane
- inner cytosol
- Cytoskeleton
- Organelles
- Inclusions
What is the role of the plasma membrane?
separates the cytoplasm from the outside environment
Definition of the plasma membrane
a bimolecular layer of amphipathic phospholipid molecules with their hydrophilic heads at the outer and inner surfaces and their hydrophobic fatty acid tails facing the middle of the 2 layers
Contents of the plasma membrane
- phospholipid molecules
- integral proteins
- cholesterol
- carbohydrates
role of integral proteins in the plasma membrane
They can act as receptors, channels, transporters, enzymes and cell attachment proteins
movement of material inside the cell to extracellular environments
exocytosis
movement of material outside the cell into the cell
endocytosis
Permeability of the plasma membrane
HIGHLY permeable to:
-water
-oxygen
-small hydrophobic molecules
VIRTUALLY IMpermeable to:
charged ions i.e. Na+
The cell membrane is fluid TRUE/FALSE
TRUE
intracellular
within the cell
intercellular
between cells
contents of the cytoplasm
organelles
inclusions
Organelles within the cytoplasm (6)
Mitochondria
Rough endoplasmic reticulum
Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi apparatus
lysosomes
nucleus
Inclusions
components that the cell has synthesised itself or taken up from the extracellular environment
{may or may not be bound by a membrane}
what are the 3 types of cytoskeletal filaments
microfilaments
intermediate filaments
microtubules
diameter of microfilaments
7nm
what are microfilaments composed of?
actin protein
diameter of intermediate filaments
> 10 nm
what are intermediate filaments composed of?
6 main proteins which vary in different cell types
diameter of microtubules
25 nm
what are microtubules composed of?
2 types of tubulin subunit (alpha and beta)
structure of microtubules
a hollow alternating array of alpha and beta tubulin and can be assembled and disassembled
include stabilising proteins (microtubule associated proteins MAPS)
where do microtubules originate from?
the centrosome
role of dynein and kinesin with microtubules
the proteins attach to the microtubules and move along them, whilst associating with the membranes of organelles and vesicles ‘dragging’ them along the microtubule.
Kinesin is an ATPase that moves toward the cell centre. TRUE/FALSE
FALSE Kinesin travels towards the cell periphery
Dynein is an ATPase that moves towards the cell centre TRUE/FALSE
TRUE
what are cilia?
hairlike projections important in the movement of substances
how can intermediate filaments be used to identify tumour origins?
The filaments are separated into classes and so the type of filament will correspond with a location or cell type.
location of neurofilaments
nerve cells
Glial fibrillary acidic proteins are present in the glial cells of the nervous system. TRUE/FALSE
TRUE
Intermediate filaments located in muscle cells
desmin
location of cytokeratins
epithelial cells
mesenchymal cells contain filesin. TRUE/FALSE
FLASE.
mesenchymal cells contain VIMENTIN
intermediate filament associated with the lens of the eye cells
filesin
location of lamin filaments
nuclei of all cells
role of intermediate filaments
bind intracellular elements together and to the plasma membrane
{form a network throughout the cells cytoplasm}
what is the structure of the nucleus?
- enclosed by a nuclear envelope
- inner and outer nuclear membrane
- nuclear pores providing continuity with the cytoplasm
- contains chromosomes
the outer nuclear membrane is studded with ribosomes. TRUE/FALSE
TRUE.
The outer nuclear membrane is also continuous with the rough endoplasmic reticulum within the cytoplasm
site of transcription of mRNA
nucleus
site of transcription of tRNA
nucleus
site of rRNA transcription
nucleolus
what are the 2 types of DNA contained within the nucleus?
euchromatin and heterochromatin
what is euchromatin?
DNA that is more dispersed and is actively undergoing transcription
what is heterochromatin?
DNA that is highly condensed and is not undergoing transcription
how are chromosomes arranged in euchromatin?
uncoiled (active)
how are chromosomes arranged in heterochromatin?
coiled (inactive)
the nucleus is surrounded by a [SINGLE/DOUBLE] nuclear membrane
DOUBLE
where are ribosomes formed?
the nucleolus
what are ribosomes made up of?
a small subunit and a large subunit
what is the role of the small subunit within a ribosome?
binding RNA
What is the role of the large subunit within a ribosome?
catalysing the formation of peptide bonds
what is the structural difference between the smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum?
the rough endoplasmic reticulum is ‘studded’ with ribosomes
what is the role of the rough endoplasmic reticulum?
a vital role in the synthesis of proteins destined for insertion into membranes or for secretion
how does the amount of different types of ER vary between cell types?
cells that are relatively metabolically inactive have relatively little ER.
what is the role of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum?
continuing the processing of proteins produced in the RER
the site of lipid synthesis.
Is the amount of SER and RER the same in all cells?
NO.
most cells have relatively little SER but some specialised cells have an extensive amount
structure of the Golgi apparatus
a group of flattened, membrane bound cisternae arranged in sub-compartments
Role of the Golgi apparatus
modification and packaging of macromolecules produced in the ER.
-adds sugars
-cleaves some proteins
-sorts macromolecules into vesicles
Mitochondria can be easily seen in normal staining. TRUE/FALSE
FALSE
mitochondria cannot be seen easily in normal staining
what are mitochondria?
oblong, cylindrical organelles, typically 0.5-2 micrometers in length.
structure of the mitochondria
- in outer membrane
- extensively folded inner membrane into CRISTAE which act to increase surface area
Function of the mitochondria
power generators of the cell
-generate ATP via oxidative phosphorylation and the synthesis of certain lipids and proteins
Mitochondria contain their own DNA TRUE/FALSE
TRUE
what are intercellular junctions
specialised membrane structures which link cells together into a functional unit
where are intercellular junctions most prominent
epithelia
what are the 3 main types of intercellular junctions?
- Occluding junctions
- Anchoring junctions
- Communication Junctions
what is the other name of occluding junctions and why?
Zonula Occludens
Zonula: Bands
Occludens: Allows no movement off molecules
Role of occluding junctions
Prevents diffusion (does not allow movement of molecules)
How do occluding junctions appear?
bands tightly closing the cell membranes together
what do adherent junctions do?
link submembrane actin bundles of adjacent bundles
what is the other name for adherent junctions?
zonula adherens
how do adherent junctions work?
transmembrane CADHERIN molecules bind to each other in the extracellular space and through link molecules , to actin of the cytoskeleton.
what do desmosomes do?
link intermediate filaments of adjacent cells
what is the other name for desmosomes and why?
macula adherens or spot junctions
macula = spot
where are desmosomes most common?
the skin
What do communicating junctions do?
allow selective diffusion of molecules between adjacent cells
what are communicating junctions sometimes called and why?
gap junctions as they allow selective diffusion between cells
Communicating junctions allow he movement of all molecules between adjacent cells TRUE/FALSE?
FALSE
They are selective of the molecules allowed to pass through depending on size
how are communication junctions structured?
each junction is a circular patch studded with several hundred pores
what proteins produce the pores in communication junctions?
connexon proteins
where are communicating junctions most readily found?
epithelia, however are also present in some smooth muscle and in cardiac muscle
What is a junctional complex?
Close association of several types of junctions found in certain epithelial tissues
What are the 3 ways in which material can be transferred in and out of the cell?
- Diffusion
- Transport proteins
- Incorporation into vesicles (vesicular transport)
(BASIC) what is endocytosis?
The movement of material from the extracellular space into the cell