Human Physiology

Three major regions of a generalized cell and their

function

-Plasma Membrane, controls what comes in and out of

the cell.

-Cytoplasm, holds organelles in their place.

-Nucleus, controls what goes on in the cell and hold’s

its DNA.
Chemical composition and functions of the plasma
membrane

-The plasma membrane is composed of a Phospholipid

bilayer.
Chemical composition and functions of the plasma
membrane

Membranes comprise lipid and protein.

Lipids form the core of all membranes. Lipids are ideally

suited to a barrier function because they are hydrophobic:
They repel water and anything dissolved in it (hydrophilic
molecules).

Proteins allow cells to interact with and communicate with

each other, and they provide pathways that allow water
and hydrophilic molecules to cross the lipid core.
Structure and function of tight junctions, desmosomes, and gap junctions.

-Tight junctions, seal epithelia, sheets of cell that connect masses of

cells and a cavity.

They do two vital things: prevent the passage of molecules and ions
between the spaces in the cell, and prevent the movement of integral
membrane proteins.

Tight junctions form a water tight seal and prevent material

from passing between cells.
-Desmosomes, are patches of skin that hold two cells
together. They attach to intermediate filaments of
keratin in the cytoplasm. They are common in skin.

This structure gives strength to tissues.

-Gap junctions, are intercellular channels that allow
ions and molecules to pass through. This allows
changes in membrane potential to pass from cell to
cell.
Active and passive transport mechanisms

Passive transport is when ions, sugars, or amino

acids move from an area of higher concentration to
lower concentration.
They rely on protein carriers to get through the
membrane, and does not use energy. Diffusion is an
example of passive transport, as well as osmosis (the
diffusion of water).
Active and passive transport mechanisms

Active transport is when larger molecules move from

lower concentration to higher concentration. They
need energy to get through the plasma membrane. An
example of active transport is the sodium-potassium
pump.
Role of the glycocalyx when cells interact with their
environment.

-Glycocalyx is a coating around a cell that enables it to

be recognized as a healthy cell and not an intruder.

-It is a fuzzy coating made of carbohydrates,

glycolipids and glycoproteins.

-The only glycocalyx that is the same is in identical

twins; everyone else has unique glycocalyx.