ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF VETERINZRY MEDICINE AND AGRICULTURE

VETERINARY ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY ( VeLT 2021)
Instructor : Berhane Wakjira BSc,MSC, Assistant Professor
 Concept of Animal Cell
• Cell: The cell is the structural and fundamental unit of life. It is also
the smallest and the most basic biological unit of living organisms. 
• On the basis of the cellular organization, cells are further classified as:

1. Eukaryotic
2. Prokaryotic.

Plant cells and animal cells fall under the eukaryotic category.

 Eukaryotic, cell or organism which contains a possesses a clearly

defined nucleus. The eukaryotic cell has a nuclear membrane that
surrounds the nucleus, in which the well-defined chromosomes (bodies
containing the hereditary material) are located.

.
• Prokaryotic cells, which do not have a nucleus, but a nucleoid region is
still present. Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms, while eukaryotes can
be either single-celled or multicellular. Prokaryotes are organisms whose
cells lack a nucleus and other organelles. Prokaryotes are divided into two
distinct groups: the bacteria and the archaea, which scientists believe have
unique evolutionary lineages. Most prokaryotes are small, single-celled
organisms that have a relatively simple structure.
 Concept of Animal Cell contd.
• A cell is enclosed in plasma membrane, which forms a selective
barrier that allows nutrients to enter and waste products to leave.
The interior of the cell is organized into many specialized
compartments, or organelles, each surrounded by a separate
membrane.
• Organelles carry out specialized tasks within the cell, localizing
functions such as replication, energy production, protein synthesis,
and processing of food and waste
The shape of animal cells also varies, with some being flat, others
oval or rod-shaped. Most of the cells are microscopic in size and can
only be seen under the microscope. Animal cells are generally
smaller than plant cells.  Another defining characteristic is its
irregular shape which is due to the absence of a cell wall.

As stated before, animal cells are eukaryotic cells that lack a cell
wall but has a true, membrane-bound nucleus.
Furthermore, these cells exhibit the presence of DNA inside the
nucleus.
 Prokaryotic Cell (Bacteria)

Bacteria are not plants. But are considered more as plants than animals because
of the presence of the bacterial cell wall which is made up of
peptidoglycan (made from polysaccharides chain cross-linked by containing D-
amino acids). However, plant cell walls are made up of cellulose which is the
strong fibre of cellulose.
Protists: A unicellulra organisms with a bounded nucleus eukaryote that is
not a true animal, plant, or fungus or a eukaryote that lacks a multicellular stage.

Archaea: all single celled Prokaryotic organisms which lack nuclear membrane and
membrane bound cell organelles except ribosomes.
 Componants of Animal Cell (Organells)
1.Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane)

• A thin semipermeable membrane layer of protein and fats surrounding the cell. Its primary role is to protect

the cell from its surrounding. Also, it controls the entry and exit of nutrients and other microscopic entities

into the cell.

2. Nuclear Membrane (Nuclear envelope)

• It is a double-membrane structure that surrounds the nucleus. It is also referred to as the nuclear envelope. It

separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm.

3. Nucleus

•The nucleus is a highly specialized organelle that contains several other sub-organelles such as

nucleolus, nucleosomes and chromatins and serves as the information and administrative

centre of the cell. This organelle has two major functions. It stores the cell's hereditary

material, or DNA, and it coordinates the cell's activities, which include intermediary

metabolism, growth, protein synthesis, and reproduction (cell division).

4. Centrosome
• It is a small organelle found near the nucleus which has a thick centre with

radiating tubules. The centrosomes are where microtubules which provide

a structure to the cell are produced.

5. Lysosome (Cell Vesicles) - The garbage man of the cell.
• They are round organelles surrounded by a membrane comprising of
digestive enzymes (very powerful hydrolytic enzymes) which help in
digesting and excreting unwanted materials within the cell, and in the cell
renewal process.
6. Cytoplasm
The cytoplasm is the gel-like fluid inside the cell which contains all the cell organelles,

enclosed within the cell membrane. It is the medium for chemical reaction. It provides

a platform upon which other organelles can operate within the cell.(cell expansion,

growth and replication are carried out in the cytoplasm of a cell).

7. Golgi Apparatus

A flat, smooth layered, sac-like organelle which is located near the nucleus and

involved in manufacturing, (synthesizing) selected molecules and then processing,

sorting, storing, packing and transporting the particles to their proper locations

throughout the cell.

8. Mitochondrion
• They are spherical or rod-shaped organelles with a double membrane. They are
the powerhouse of a cell as they play an important role in releasing energy
necessary for cell survival.Transformer
9. Ribosome
• They are small organelles made up of RNA-rich cytoplasmic granules, and they
are the sites of protein synthesis.
10. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)
• Network of sac-like structures and tubes in the cytoplasm of a cell in
which Proteins are produced for the rest of the cell to function and
other molecules move.
11. Vacuole
• A membrane-bound organelle present inside a cell involved in maintaining
shape and storing water, food, wastes, etc. Vacuoles are structurally and
functionally related to lysosomes in animal cells and may contain a wide range of
hydrolytic enzymes.
12. Nucleopore
• They are tiny holes present in the nuclear membrane which are involved in the
movement of nucleic acids and proteins within the cell.
 Picture of Eukaryot Cell

The nucleolus is a region found within the cell nucleus that is concerned with producing and
assembling the cell's ribosomes. Following assembly, ribosomes are transported to the cell
cytoplasm where they serve as the sites for protein synthesis.
• Animal Cell Types
• There are numerous types of animal cells, each designed to serve specific
functions. The most common types of animal cells are:
• Skin Cells
• Melanocytes, keratinocytes,  Merkel cells and Langerhans cells
• Muscle Cells (myocytes)
• Myocyte, Myosatellite cells, Tendon cells, Cardiac muscle cells
• Blood Cells
• Leukocytes, erythrocytes, platelet
• Nerve Cells
• Schwann cell, glial cells etc
• Fat Cells
• Adipocytes
Structures of different types of animal cell

Blood cells
 Functions of Animal Cells
A cell carries out all the processes of the body which include:
•  Producing and storing energy. deliver oxygen to the tissues in the body.
Oxygen turns into energy and tissues release carbon dioxide. They also
transport carbon dioxide to the lungs to exhale.
• Making proteins which are molecules that have roles in metabolism
• Transportation of other molecules like nutrients and gases to and out of the
body
• DNA replication
• Reproduction through mitosis

• Build the body structure ie. Cell – Tissue – Organ – System

• Excretion of waste material eg. Kidney cell.
 General information
• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) 
• DNA is a chemical that is found in all living cells which contains genetic
information.
• DNA replication is the biological process of producing two identical
replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule.
• Once the DNA in a cell is replicated, the cell can divide into two cells, each
of which has an identical copy of the original DNA.