MT2213: HUMAN HISTOLOGY| LECTURE – PRELIM

Lesson 3: The Nucleus

THE NUCLEUS CELL CYCLE

INTRODUCTION — This refers to the sequence of events that

controls cell growth and division.
— The NUCLEUS is the membrane-enclosed
organelle within a cell that contains the DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL PHASES:
chromosomes.
• G1 PHASE (FIRST GAP) – the stage where
— The nucleus contains the code for all of a cell’s
cell is preparing to divide, the cell grows larger,
enzyme and other proteins.
copies organelles, and makes the molecular
— It functions as a command center of the cell building block.
and function as the machinery to replicate the
• S PHASE (DNA SYNTHESIS) – the stage
DNA and to synthesize and process all types of
where cell copies all the DNA in its nucleus.
RNA.
• G2 PHASE (SECOND GAP) – the stage where
the cells grows more and makes proteins and
COMPONENTS OF THE NUCLEUS organelles, the stage where DNA starts to
condense and prepares for division.
NUCLEAR ENVELOPE
• MITOSIS – the stage where the cell divides its
— Forms a selective permeable barrier copied DNA and cytoplasm to make TWO new
between the nuclear and cytoplasmic cells.
components.
— This also provides structural framework of the
nucleus.

CHROMATIN

— Is consist of DNA and all of the associated

proteins that form the chromosomes and is
involved in the organization and function of
DNA.
— In human, each cell’s chromatin is divided
among 46 CHROMOSOMES (23 pairs).
— After DNA replication, each chromosome is
consist of 2 identical chromatin units called
CHROMATIDS MITOSIS PHASE

NUCLEOLUS • INTERPHASE – G1, synthesis, G2

— Is the largest nuclear organelle and is the
primary site of ribosome subunit biogenesis in
eukaryotic cells.
— Appears to be spherical, highly basophilic
subdomain of nuclei in cells actively engaged
in protein synthesis.
• PROPHASE – when chromosomes condense,
the nuclear envelope disassembles and the
microtubular spindles forms.
• METAPHASE – when chromosomes are
aligned.
• ANAPHASE – when chromosomes begin to
separate toward the two centrosomes.
• TELOPHASE – when nuclear envelope re-
forms around the separated chromosomes.
• CYTOKINESIS
 APOPTOSIS

— Aka process of PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH

— It happens during early development to
eliminate unwanted cells.
— Apoptosis is used to rid of body cells that have
been damaged beyond repair.
— This also plays a role in preventing cancer.

— Cells that die as a result of acute injury typically

swell and burst.
— They spill their contents all over their neighbors
(cell necrosis) causing a potentially damaging
inflammatory response.

— When a cell dies neatly (w/o damaging its

neighbor) the cell shrinks and condenses; the
cytoskeleton collapses, the nuclear envelope
disassembles, and the nuclear DNA breaks up
into fragments.