EFFECT OF CELL MEMBRANE REPAIR

ON HEART HEALTH
Tafari Williams

Structure of Cell Membrane

The cell membrane (a.k.a. plasma
membrane of a cell is the organelle that
covers the cell and regulates the
movement of substances in and out of the
cell. It keeps all of the cytoplasm within
the cell as it encases the entire thing.
The cells plasma membrane of a cell is
composed of a phospholipid bilayer
with the hydrophilic sides facing the
interior and exterior of the cell and the
hydrophobic sides facing each other.
The membrane contains about five
different phospholipids, however there
are also proteins, carbohydrates and
other lipids contained within it.

FUNCTION OF CELL MEMBRANE

As mentioned earlier, the plasma membrane of a cell is composed of a

phospholipid bilateral and several proteins and lipids. These proteins
determine most of the functions and interactions the cell has with its
surroundings, such as:
Transporting substances from outside of the cell to inside or vice
versa
Serving as Enzymes
Signal transduction
Cell to cell recognition
Intercellular joining
Attaching of the membrane to the cytoskeleton or extra cellular
matrix.

IMPORTANCE

Cell membranes are necessary

for the survival of human cells
and cells in general because
they hold the cell together
along with certain other
structures like the
cytoskeleton. The organelles
in cells would have nothing
holding them within cells.
Without cell membranes there
are no cells, and without cells
there is no life.

CARDIOMYOPATHY

Cardiomyopathy is the enlarging, thickening, or

stiffening of one or both of the heart's ventricles with
scar tissue. This makes it difficult to pump blood
efficiently enough to provide for the everyday needs
of the body.

CARDIOMYOPATHY'S EFFECT ON THE CELL AND ORGANISM

The skeletal muscles and muscles in the heart suffer ruptures

and other damages when put under intense physical stress.
Usually these muscular cells are repaired over time through
the use of certain proteins, however, there are occasions in
which the cells do not produce the proper proteins to repair
themselves. Cells obviously cannot survive without a cell
membrane so all of the cells lacking them in the heart die.
This accumulation of dead cells does nothing but prevent the
heart from pumping blood properly by creating scar tissue,
resulting in cardiac arrest. The protein largely responsible for
the repair of the heart muscles when present and
cardiomyopathy when absent is dysferlin,obviously a very
crucial protein for the survival of organisms.

3 types of cardiomyopathy

WORKS CITED

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9898/

http://www.txandy.webspace.virginmedia.com/
about_cardiomyopathy.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/
2007/07/070703171935.htm

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cm/
names

http://www.medcomic.com/040815.html

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