UNIT 1: ORGANIZATION OF HUMAN BODY

1. LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION
a. Cell: the simplest living unit.
b. Tissue: a group of specialized cells that work together to perform a
specific function.
- Epithelial
- Connective
- Muscle
- Nervous
c. Organ: a group of different tissues that work together to carry out a
specific function.
d. Organ system: a group of similar or different organs that work together to
carry out life functions.
2. THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LIVING THINGS
a. Bioelements join together to form biomolecules. There are two types:
1. Inorganic biomolecules
Water
Mineral salts
2. Organic biomolecules: chemical element carbon.
Carbohydrates: mono/di/polysaccharides (glucose and

glycogen)
Lipids: fats, phospholipids and cholesterol
Proteins: are composed of many smaller molecules
called amino acids ( collagen, haemoglobin and

antibodies.
Nucleic acids: composed of smaller ones called

nucleotides (DNA, RNA)

3. CELLS: THE BASIC UNIT OR LIVING THINGS
a. Structural unit
b. Functional unit
c. Biological unit
d. Basic unit
There are two types of organism:

Unicellular organisms: one cell

Multicellular organisms: many cells

3 Life functions in cells:

-

Cellular nutrition: all the processes in which cells obtain matter and energy.
Cell take in nutrients to make chemical processes called cellular metabolism (
catabolism and anabolism)

Cell interaction: cells get information from environment and communicate

with other cells.

Cellular reproduction: parent cell divides into two or more cells called

daughter cells.
o Unicellular organism: an entire organism identical to the parent.
o Multicellular organism
4. PROKARYOTIC CELLS: Bacteria
a. No nucleus
b. Ribosomes are the only organelles.
c. The cell membrane is usually covered by a cell wall
d. Parts:
- Cell membrane: exchange of substances
- Cell wall: protects and gives shape.
- Bacterial capsule: promotes adhesion and protects the cell
- Bacterial chromosome: contains genetic material
- Ribosomes: carry out protein synthesis
- Appendices: flagella and fimbriae to movement.
5. EUKARYOTIC CELLS:
a. Cell membrane: exchange of substances
b. Cytoplasm: contains hyaloplasm, organelles and cytoskeleton.
c. Nucleus: contains genetic material and nucleoplasm, chromatin
(chromosomes) and nucleolus.
6. CELL ORGANELLES AND STRUCTURES:
- Mitochondria: cellular respiration
- Vesicles: lysosomes contain hydrolytic enzymes to intracellular
digestion
- Endoplasmic reticulum: two types: Rough ER (synthesis and
transport of proteins to Golgi body) and Smooth ER ( lipids are
synthetized here).
- Golgi body or apparatus: stores, processes and packages
substances received and secretory vesicles transport then out of the
-

cell.
Ribosomes: protein synthesis.
Centrosome: mitotic spindle formation when a cell divides.
Cilia and flagella: cell movement.
Cytoskeleton: chromosome organization during cell division.

7. HUMAN TISSUE:
a. Epithelial tissue:
- Covering epithelia: covers and protects insternal and external body
surfaces.
1. Epidermis: many layers of cells (skin)
2. Mucous membrane: protects internal cavities ( digestive and
respiratory tracts)
3. Endothelia: single layer of cells ( blood vessels and heart)
- Glandular epithelia: makes up the glands. It produces and secretes
substances.

1. Exocrine glands: they secrete substances into a body cavity or

outside the body through ducts. (sweat)
2. Endocrine glands: they secrete hormones directly into the
bloodstream without ducts. (Thyroxine)
3. Mixed glands: They produce other substances and secrete
hormones into the blood. (insulin)
b. Connective tissue:
It has three components: cells, fibres and matrix.
- Osseous or bone tissues: osteoblasts and osteocytes.
- Adipose tissue: adipocytes.
- Cartilage tissue: chondrocytes.
- Dense connective tissue: tendons and ligaments.
- Blood tissue: red and blood cells. Its matrix, plasma, is liquid.
c. Muscle tissue: Contains proteins filaments or actin and myosin which
contract and relax muscles.
- Smooth muscle tissue: contraction is involuntary
- Skeletal muscle tissue: are striated with dark and light bands.
Contraction is voluntary.
- Cardiac muscle tissue: contraction involuntary like heart wall.
d. Nervous tissue: transmit and receive information.
- Neurons: star shaped with branching projections, transmit nerve
impulses.
- Glial cells: They nourish and support neurons. Not transmit nerve
impulses.