CELLS- functional units of life

BASIC PARTS
1. Plasma Membrane- outer boundary of the cell
2. Cytoplasm- portion of the cell outside the nucleus
3. Nucleus- control center of the cell
 Houses the genetic material

I. CELL MEMBRANES

A. Fluid Mosaic Model- developed by Jonathan Singer and Garth Nicholson in 1972]

Important Points:
1. Cholesterol is present in the membrane
- Functions: Make the membrane less permeable to polar substances; make
the membrane more stable

2. Has Phospholipid bi-layer sandwiched between 2 layers of proteins

- Phospholipid has one polar end and 2 nonpolar tails

3. Plasma membrane has extrinsic and intrinsic proteins

- Extrinsic- attached to the outer region or inner membrane surface
- Intrinsic- embedded w/in the membrane

4. Glycolipids and glycoproteins are present

- Surface sugars and proteins make-up the glycocalyx (cell-coat)
- Functions: intercellular communication and cell identification
 B. Movement Across Membranes

1. Passive Transport- energy input is not required

a. Simple Diffusion- movement of solute from higher to lower concentration

Ex. Movement of CO2 out of cells

b. Osmosis- movement of solvent from higher to lower concentration across

a semi-permeable membrane
Ex. Hemolysis- rbc in hypotonic solution will cause water to move into
the cell causing it to swell and burst
Crenation- rbc in hypertonic solution will cause water to move out
of the cell causing it to shrink

c. Facilitated Diffusion- diffusion of larger molecules through a membrane

by means of carrier proteins
- also called “Carrier-mediated Passive Transport”
Ex. Movement of glucose into most cells

d. Dialysis- diffusion of smaller solutes through a selectively permeable

membrane
Ex. During urine formation, blood pressure forces water and dissolved
wastes into the kidney tubules

2. Active Transport- energy input is required since molecules move against the
concentration gradient
Ex. Movement of Na+ from inside the neurons to the outside

3. Endocytosis- bulk movement of material into a cell by formation of a vesicle

a. Pinocytosis- endocytosis of fluid and dissolved molecules
b. Phagocytosis- endocytosis of solid particles

4. Exocytosis- movement of material out of a cell

Ex. Secretion of hormones

II. CYTOPLASM
 2 Phases
1. Particulate Phase- organelles and lipid droplets
2. Aqueous Phase- composed of cytosol where the
particulate phase is suspended
Organelles:
1. Ribosome
 Non-membrane bound
 Sites for protein synthesis
 Some are attached to the RER
  Some are free-floating

2. RER (Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum)

 Membrane bound complex of tubules, sacs, sheets that branch and
spread throughout the cytoplasm
 Circulates materials around the cytoplasm
 Stores proteins

3. SER (Smooth ER)

 Used for detoxification
 Ca++ storage

4. Golgi Apparatus
 Composed of flattened stacks of membrane bound cisternae
 Functions in packaging and secretion of glycoprotein
 Produces lysosomes

5. Lysosomes
 Contain acid hydrolases capable of digesting organic molecules

6. Mitochondria
 Double-membrane bound organelles
 Inner membrane folds into compartments called cristae
 Power generator of the cell

7. Cytoskeleton
a. Microtubules- hollow, cylindrical structures
- Function in the movement of organelles
- Function in chromosome movement during cell division
b. Intermediate filaments
- Maintain the shape of the cell
- Maintain spatial organization of organelles
c. Microfilaments
- Provide mechanical support for various cell structure
- Responsible for cellular movement

8. Centrioles
 Make up the centrosome
 Involved in the movement of chromosomes

III. NUCLEUS
- houses the DNA
- controls all vital processes
Nuclear Envelope- cell membrane that protects the nucleus
A. Nuclear Pores- allow RNA to leave the nucleus and at the
same time, prevent the DNA from leaking out
B. Chromosomes- contain the hereditary information of the
cell
C. Nucleolus- functions in ribosome synthesis