Biology 11 and 12: Cell modifications and specialization

1. Cheek Cells (Animal Cells)

• Lysosomes – Digests food vacuoles and recycles unwanted materials.
• Centrioles – Development and produces spindle fibers for cell division.
• Flagella – For locomotion.
2. Onion Cells (Plant Cells)
• Central Vacuole – Water, food and waste storage.
• Cell Wall – Rigid outer covering that contains cellulose.
• Plastids – Responsible for photosynthesis via chloroplast (a plastid that contains chlorophyll).
• Plasmodesmata – Channels that connects plant cells.
3. Blood
• Preparing the blood smear:
▪ Solution 1 - Methanol
▪ Solution 2 – Eosin
▪ Solution 3 – Hematoxylin
• Disc-like or Biconcave shape – For oxygen diffusion.
• Nucleus is absent – For greater surface area.
4. Liver Cells
• Smooth and Rough ER is abundant.
• Contains many ribosomes.
5. Stomach Cells
• Chief Cells – Secretes pepsinogen and gastric lipase. Digests Protein
• Parietal Cells – Produces HCl (aq) and Gastric acid and secretes intrinsic factor for digestion of
vitamin B12.
• Mucous Cells – For protective covering of stomach. It is the counterpart of Parietal cells.
• Microvilli – For increasing the surface are for nutrient absorption.
6. Tracheal Cells
• Ciliated Cells – to propel mucus.
• Goblet Cells – responsible for producing mucus to trap particles.
7. Muscle Cells
• Characteristics
1. Multi-nucleated – to produce proteins because muscles are prone to tearing.
2. Long and Cylindrical
3. Striated
• Contains contractile filaments: Actin and Myosin
1. Light Band/I band – Actin
2. Dark Band/A band – Actin and Myosin
8. Bone Cells
• Osteocytes – They do not contain nuclei because they need to be stable. Toughest part of the
bone which bounded by calcium and phosphate.
• Osteoblast – Builds bone.
▪ Factors on bone-building
1. Consistent Trauma
2. Increase of Ca+ in blood
• Osteoclast – Bone resorption.
9. Nerve Cells
• Soma – It is where the metabolic activities of the cell happens.
• Dendrites – It is the receiver of electrical impulses and sends it toward the cell or soma.
• Axon – It is the sender of the impulses away from the cell or soma.
• Myelin Sheath – Protects the long axon. It insulates the cell to make the impulses travel faster.

• Nodes of Ranvier – The gap between two myelin sheaths. It speeds up the transmission of
impulses
• Saltatory conduction – The jumping of impulses from two myelin sheaths.
• Schwann Cells – Produces myelin sheath.
10. Skin Cells
• Epidermis
▪ Has 5 layers
1. Stratum Corneum – Has the most keratin.
2. Stratum Lucidum – Flattened and clear layer.
3. Stratum Granulosum – Waxy material.
4. Stratum Spinosum – Intercellular bridge.
5. Stratum Basale – Deepest part where mitotic division happens
. ▪ Contains 3 types of cells
1. Keratinocyte – Produces keratin; a protein that protects epithelial cells from damage or
stress
2. Melanocyte – Produces melanin; a pigment that responsible for black and reddish color of
skin.
 3. Langerham Cells – For immunity against foreign bodies.
• Dermis
• Hypodermis (Subcutis)
11. Mammary Cells
• Inner Epithelial Cells – For lactation.
• Outer Epithelial or Myoepithelial Cells – Contractile cells which ejects milk from the nipple.
The cell (from Latin cella, meaning "small room") is the basic structural, functional, and biological unit of all
known organisms. A cell is the smallest unit of life. ... Organisms can be classified as unicellular (consisting of a
single cell; including bacteria) or multicellular (including plants and animals).