Microanatomy Flashcards
Definition of a tissue
Collection of cells specialised to perform a particular function
What are the four types of tissue and what are their general functions
Epithelium - lining and covering
Connective tissue - support and protection
Nerve - fast communication
Muscle - movement
What is an organ
Part of the body that is more than one tissue that forms a structural unit responsible for a particular function
Describe the structure of the cell membrane
Phospholipid bilayer
Contains embedded membrane proteins but also peripheral membrane proteins
Fluid mosaic model
Label the diagram of cell membrane
See lecture “cells 1”
Slide 11
What is the function of cholesterol in the cell membrane
Maintains fluidity in all temperatures
What is a glycoprotein
Protein with carbohydrate attatched
What is a glycolipid
Lipid with carbohydrate attatched
What are the functions of the cell membrane
- structural support
- compartmentalisation - special activities are contained and independently regulated
- selectively permeable membrane - regulates passage of specific solutes
- signal transduction - responds to and transmits stimuli
- intercellular interaction - allows cells to recognise and signal each other - cell adherence - regulates entry and exit of molecules
What does compartmentalisation mean in terms of the cell membrane
Specialised activities are contained and independently regulated
What does signal transduction mean in terms of a cell membrane
Responds to and transmits stimuli
What does intercellular interaction mean in terms of cell membrane
Allows cells to recognise and signal each other
Cell adherence
Regulates entry and exit of molecules
Is surface if the membrane hydrophilic or hydrophobic. Why?
Hydrophilic because the surfaces are formed by the polar head groups of the lipid molecules
Is the inner portion of the cell membrane hydrophilic or hydrophobic? Why?
Hydrophobic because the fatty acids of the lipid molecules face each other
What are three types of lipids found in the cell membrane
Phospholipids, cholesterol and sphingolipid (nervous tissue)
What are the four types of proteins found in cell membranes
Transporters
Anchors
Receptors
Enzymes
What is the role of transporters in the cell membrane
Allow passage of small ions, molecules and water in either direction
Gap junction
What is the role of anchors in the cell membrane
Anchor the intercellular cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM)
What are is function of receptors in the cell membrane
Allow recognition and localised binding of molecules
What is the main role of the nucleus
To duplicate genetic information
Transcribes information necessary for synthetic processes
What is chromatin
Highly folded nucleoprotein complex that consists of DNA and structural proteins histones
What does a) heterochromatin indicate and what does b) euchromatin indicate
a) indicates cell is metabolically inactive
b) indicates active chromatin
How does heterochromatin and euchromatin appear in an electron microscope
Heterochromatin appears as dense staining and highly condensed
Euchromatin appears as lightly-staining/ electron-lucid
What happens in the nucleolus
Site of ribosomal RNA synthesis and initial ribosomal assembly
Describe the nuclear envelope
Double membrane with a perinuclear space
Continuous with rER
Inner membrane supported by nuclear lamina
Pores
Label the diagram of the nuclear envelope
See lecture 1 slide 19
Describe the nuclear pore complex (NPC)
Formed by the merging of inner and outer membranes
What is the role of nuclear pores
Mediate the active transport if proteins, ribonucleoproteins and RNAs between nucleus and cytoplasm
What has an impact on how many nuclear pores there are
More active the nucleus is in transcription then the greater number of pores
What is the function of the nuclear lamina
Supports nuclear envelope
Essential in DNA replication, transcription and gene regulation
Anchors heterochromatin
Important in spatial organisation of nuclear pore
What is the enzyme that generates ATP in the matrix of the mitochondria
ATP synthase
What is the purpose of Cristae in the mitochondria
Increase surface area
Label the mitochondria diagram see lecture 1 slide 22
Labelled
What other tasks are mitochondria involved in other than production of ATP
Cell signalling
Cellular differentiation
Cell death (apoptosis)
Maintains control of the cell and cell growth
Describe the structure of ER
Membrane continuous with nuclear envelope
Consists of flattened sacs (cisternae) and tubules with a fluid-filled lumen
What is the difference between Rough ER and smooth ER
Rough has ribosomes located in membrane + more flattened in appearance
Smooth has none + more tubular in appearance
What is the function of smooth ER
Synthesises lipids
In striated muscle it is used as a calcium store
Enzymes within SER can help eliminate toxins, drugs, alcohol - prominent in hepatocytes (liver drugs to break down alcohol)
Carbohydrate metabolism - break down glucose to glycogen
What is the function of rough ER
Synthesis of secretory proteins and membrane proteins
Polypeptides assembled on the bound ribosomes and threaded into the ER lumen
Addition of carbohydrates to proteins
Folding of polypeptide chain - occurs in ER lumen
Quality control
What is the describe and state the function of free and fixed ribosomes
Free: scattered throughout the cytoplasm; assemble proteins for internal use
Fixed: fixed to RER; assemble proteins for export
Describe the structure of Golgi apparatus
A stack of flattened membranous sacs called cisternae
Functions of the Golgi apparatus
Modify products of the ER - glycosylation
Storage
Sorting and packaging of molecules into vesicles for transport
Shipping of secretory vesicles
In which direction through the Golgi apparatus does membrane modification occur
Cis to trans
In the Golgi apparatus which is the receiving face and which is the shipping face
Cis = receiving Trans = shipping
Describe lysosomes
Membranous sacs/vesicles containing hydrolytic enzymes
Involved in autophagy and heterophagy
What does autophagy mean
Destroy and recycle organelles and macromolecules from within the cell
What is heterophagy
Destroy material and extracellular matter that has been phagocytosed/ endocytosed by the cell
What is the difference between primary and secondary lysosomes
Primary: those which have yet to begin a digestive event - fuse with a phagosome
Secondary: where digestion proceeds
What is the name of the membrane bound vesicle that contains undigested material after lysosome action
Residual body
What are the seven steps of heterophagy
- Chemotaxis and adherence of microbe to phagocyte
- Ingestion of microbe by phagocyte
- Formation of phagosome
- Fusion of phagosome with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome
- Digestion of ingested microbe by enzymes
- Formation of residual body containing indigestible material
- Discharge of waste materials
Describe autophagy
- Phagophore formed - encloses cellular cargo?
- Autophagosome formed
- Fusion with lysosome
- Autophagolysome formation and cellular cargo degradation
- Products of degradation released back into cytoplasm
What is the function of the cytoskeleton
- gives cell shape and mechanical resistance to deformation
- actively contract - allows cell to migrate/move
- involved in cell signalling pathways
- involved in uptake of extracellular material (endocytosis)
- segregates chromosomes during cellular division
- involved in intracellular transport (move through cell)
- forms specialised structures such as flagella and cilia
What are the 3 types of filament within the cytoskeleton of a cell and what are their functions
Microfilaments (actin): determine shape of cell’s surface & control locomotion
Microtubules: determine positions of membrane enclosed organelles and direct intracellular transport
Intermediate filaments: provide mechanical strength - resist tension - cell to cell adherence
See “cells 3” lecture, slide 4 for diagrams
How are intermediate filaments involved in cell adherence
Transmit shearing forces through desmosomes between cells
Why can staining for intermediate filaments be useful
If a cell in an organ becomes cancerous and spreads - will carry intermediate filament - so you can identify where the cancer originated (different intermediate filament subtypes for different types of cells)
What do epithelial cells attach to basal lamina through
Hemidesmosomes
Describe the structure of microfilaments
Actin filaments are connected deep to the plasma membrane
Describe the role of microfilaments
Essential for cell movement and cell shape - associate with myosin to form contractile structures (contract and relax)
Role in phagocytosis - move to engulf
Shape the cell membrane forming lamellipodia and filopodia
Form core of microvilli
Describe the structure of microtubules
- Hollow tubes formed from molecules of alpha and beta subunits
- 13 subunits form protofilaments that are arranged as a helix - gives it polarity
What is the role of microtubules
- Form tracks that determine the location and movement of organelles and intracellular vesicles
- grow from an area (centrosome) and extend to the cell periphery
- form mitosis spindle used in cell division
- form the core of cilia and sperm cells