UNIT 3

THE CELLULAR LEVEL

(PART 1)

BSc Environmental Health

Anatomy & Physiology level 1
Objectives
1. To identify structures of the cell and describe functioning of the
various structures of the cell.
2. To understand cellular transportation processes.
Introduction
• Body consists of approximately 200 different types of cells.
• Cells are living structural and functional units, which are enclosed by
a membrane.
• Different types of cells in the body carry out specific functions.
• Cells are adapted for their specific functions.
Question: How are muscle
cells adapted for their
function?

Image: Muscle cells – muscle tissue consists

of muscle cells.
Main structures of a cell
• 3 main structures in a cell:
✓Plasma membrane
✓Cytoplasm
✓Nucleus
Image 1: Human cell structures
Plasma membrane
• Cells flexible outer surface.
• Consists of lipids and proteins.
• The plasma membrane separates the cells internal environment from
the external environment.
• Selectively permeable, regulates flow of material into and out of cell.
• Key role in communication among cells.
• The basic framework of the plasma membrane is the lipid bilayer.
Image 2: Fluid mosaic model of a plasma membrane
Components of a plasma membrane
1. Lipid bilayer
2. Intergral proteins
3. Peripheral proteins

(refer to page 41 & 42 of textbook (Tortora & Derrickson 10th edition for description & function of
each structure)
Lipid bilayer
• The lipid-bilayer is the basic framework of the plasma membrane.
• Two tail to tail layers are made up of 3 different types of lipid molecules:
✓Phospholipids
✓Cholesterol
✓Glycolipids
• There are 2 types of proteins in the membrane:
✓Integral proteins
✓Peripheral proteins (some peripheral proteins are called glycoproteins)
Cytoplasm
• Comprises of all cellular contents between the plasma membrane and
the nucleus.
• Inclusive of both cytosol and organelles.
Cytosol
• Also known as intracellular fluid.
• Liquid portion of the cytoplasm.
• Site for many chemical reactions.
• The cytoskeleton extends throughout the cytosol.
• It is a network of protein filaments.
• Cytoskeleton consists of 3 different types of protein filaments;
✓Microfilaments
✓Intermediate filaments
✓Microtubules
Organelles
• Specialized structures inside cells.
• Organelles have shapes.
• Specific functions take place in each organelle.
Organelles
1. Centrosome
2. Cilia and flagella
3. Ribosomes
4. Endoplasmic reticulum (smooth & rough ER)
5. Golgi complex
6. Lysosomes
7. Peroxisomes
8. Proteasomes
9. Mitochondria
10. Nucleus
(refer to textbook page 50 to 55 for description & function of each organelle)
Image: Cell structure
CELLULAR TRANSPORTATION PROCESSES
Cellular transportation processes
• Movement of substances across the plasma membrane is intergral in
maintaining life of the cell.
• Certain substances move into the cell.
• Other substances move out of the cell.
• Movement occurs by 2 processes:
1. Passive processes
2. Active processes

(Read page 43 of textbook on transport across the plasma membrane)

Definitions
1. Intracellular fluid (ICF)– fluid inside the cell (cytosol)
2. Extracellular fluid (ECF)– fluid outside the cell. ECF has different
names depending on where it is located.
3. Solute- any material dissolved in fluid.
4. Solvent – fluid which the solute is dissolved in is referred to as a
solvent.
5. Concentration- is the amount of solute in a solution.
6. Concentration gradient- difference in concentration between 2
different areas.
Passive Processes
Passive processes
• Substance moves down the concentration gradient through a
membrane.
• Using energy of motion referred to as kinetic energy.
• E.g. diffusion & osmosis
Diffusion
• Passive process
• Particles diffuse from a region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration.
• After a period of time EQUILIBRIUM is reached.
• At this point the substance is evenly distributed throughout the
solution.
• There are 2 types of diffusion :
1. Simple diffusion
2. Facilitated diffusion
Image : Process of simple diffusion
 Image: Facilitated diffusion

Read page 45 of textbook on

facilitated diffusion
Osmosis
• Passive process.
• Involves the movement of water through a selectively permeable
membrane.
• Water movement occurs from an area of higher water concentration
to an area of lower water concentration.
Image: Diagram of osmosis process
Active Processes
Active processes
• Cellular energy required in the form of ATP.
• Energy used to push substance through a membrane against its
concentration gradient.
• From low concentration to an area of high concentration.
Active processes
1. Protein pumps
• Carrier proteins are referred to as Protein pumps
• Energy from ATP changes the shape of a carrier protein.
• Carrier protein moves a substance across a membrane against its
concentration gradient.
• Substances transported by active transport are mostly ions.
Image : Carrier protein pumps
Active processes
2. Transport in vesicles
• A small fluid sac formed by budding off from an existing membrane.
• Vesicles aid in transporting substances from one structure to another
within cells.
• ATP is required for movement of vesicles.
1. Exocytosis – materials move out of the cell.
2. Endocytosis- materials move into the cell.
✓Phagocytosis
✓Bulk phase endocytosis
Image : Endocytosis
References
1. Adapted from: Tortora and Derrickson. 2015. Introduction to the
human body. 10th edition. Wiley.