Cell Structure and Function

Cell Membrane

“The membrane is a contiguous structure, not continuous”

Studies with the electron microscope reveal that the cell membrane, plasma
membrane or plasmalemma consists essentially of two back-to-back layers of
phospholipids with randomly dispersed protein molecules. The hydrophilic heads of the
phospholipid molecules point outwards, forming hydrogen bonds with the surrounding
water molecules while the mutually attracting hydrophobic tails point inwards. The
lipoprotein complex is not a rigid assemblage but a “sea” of lipid molecules that can move
about from side to side quite freely within their own layers. Among the lipid molecules are
interspersed protein molecules that may “float” only on one or both sides of the membrane
or traverse the whole width of the lipid bilayers. This has become known as the “fluid
mosaic” model (Figure 8) which is currently the more widely accepted explanation of the
structure of plasma membrane.

The cell membrane is thin but sturdy and it is selectively or differentially permeable.
Some materials can pass through it with ease, like gases (CO2 and O2), water,
hydrocarbons, alcohol, urea and lipid-soluble substances while others enter slowly and
with difficulty, including amino acids and glucose. Whereas, carbohydrates, fats and
proteins cannot enter at all; they have to be digested or broken down into simpler and
smaller molecules first before the cell membrane permits them to pass through.

The following are the functions of the cell membrane:

1. It encloses every cell and maintains cellular integrity; it keeps all contents from
spilling out.
2. It is a selective barrier that separates the external from the internal environment
of the cell.
3. It regulates the vital flow of molecular traffic into and out of the cell.
4. It acts as a selective gatekeeper for the entrance and exit of the many
substances involved in cell metabolism.
5. It provides many of the unique functional properties of specialized cells.

Nucleus

Known as the ‘control center’, the nucleus is the most conspicuous part of the cell.
It is generally oval or spherical-shaped, centrally located and filled with a semi-fluid
medium called karyoplasm, nucleoplasm or nuclear sap which is separated from the
cytoplasm by a nuclear membrane. The double-layered nuclear membrane contains
nuclear pores for the passage of large molecules and for exchange of materials between
the nucleus and cytoplasm.
 Suspended in the nucleoplasm is the nucleolus which is composed of ribonucleic
acid (RNA) and protein. The nucleolus is the site where subunits of ribosomes are formed.
Also found inside the nucleus is the chromatin material which is chemically made up of
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein.

Cytoplasm

This cellular part is largely composed of water. The cytoplasm contains two groups
of structures that are essential for maintaining and sustaining the life of the cell. The first
group includes the membrane systems, namely the nuclear envelope, endoplasmic
reticulum, Golgi body and lysosome. The membranes of these structures are also
selectively permeable being chemically composed of phospholipids and protein
molecules. The other group of structures is non-membranous and they are embedded in
the aqueous hyaloplasm of the cytoplasmic matrix.