GENERAL

BIOLOGY 1
Lesson 4: Cell Surface
Modifications
 Cell Surface Modifications
Cell modifications are additional features to the
cell’s body that evolve as they adapt to external
pressures for efficient functioning.
3 Types of Cell Surface Modifications
1. Apical
2. Lateral
3. Basal
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Axoneme – are long, stabilized
microtubules which is the
central foundation of cilia and
flagella

Basal Body – are barrel-like microtubular

structures located near the cell
surface that provide the
template for the nine-fold
symmetry upon which the
cilium/flagellum is assembled.
 APICAL MODIFICATIONS
• These are located at the tip of the cell surface
• It is specialized to carry out functions that occur at
these interfaces, including secretion, absorption,
and movement of luminal contents.

1. Cilia
2. Flagella
3. Microvilli
4. Stereocilia

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 APICAL MODIFICATIONS
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1. CILIA
A cilium (plural cilia) is an organelle found in eukaryotic
cells.
- hair-like structures that project from the much larger
cell body.
2 Types of Cilia
a) Motile Cilia – are usually present on a cell's surface in
large numbers and beat in coordinated waves.
- are used to move entire cells or sweep off
substances
- 9+2 axoneme
(fallopian lining, respiratory tract)
 APICAL MODIFICATIONS
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b. Non-motile cilia – usually occur one per cell

- 9+0 axoneme

It serves the following functions:

• mechanoreceptors – detect mechanical

changes
• chemoreceptors – detect chemicals
• photoreceptors – detect light
 APICAL MODIFICATIONS
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2. FLAGELLA
A flagellum (plural flagella) is an organelle found in both prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells.
- a whip-like structure whose main function is for locomotion.
(spermatozoa and some prokaryotic organisms)
Prokaryotic flagellum vs Eukaryotic flagellum
 APICAL MODIFICATIONS
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Types of Flagellation
• Atrichous – having no flagellum
• Monotrichous - single polar flagellum
• Amphitrichous - single flagellum on
both sides
• Lopotrichous - tufts of flagella at one
side.
• Cephalotrichous - tufts of flagella on
both sides
• Peritrichous - numerous flagella all
over the bacterial body.
 APICAL MODIFICATIONS
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3. MICROVILLI
- Microvilli are plasma membrane-covered extensions of
the cell surface;
- their cores are composed of parallel actin microfilaments
which are anchored in a dense mat of filaments in the apical
cytoplasm called the terminal web

Functions:
• Increases cell surface area
• Absorption
• Secretion
• Cellular adhesion
• Mechanotransduction in the kidney’s
proximal tubules.
 APICAL MODIFICATIONS
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4. STEREOCILIA
- Stereocilia are non-motile apical cell modifications, distinct
from cilia and microvilli, but closely related to the latter.
- Stereocilia are not true cilia but very long microvilli - Found on
the cochlea in the inner ear, ductus deferens, and epididymis

Functions:
- they serve as mechanosensing organelles.
 LATERAL
MODIFICATIONS
• These are located on the side of the cell surface
• Attach cells tightly to one another by specialized
intercellular junctions.

1. Tight Junctions
2. Gap Junctions
3. Adherens Junctions
4. Desmosomes

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 LATERAL MODIFICATIONS

1. TIGHT JUNCTIONS (Zonula occludens)

- are located near the cell apex and seal

off the intercellular space.

- helps maintain the polarity of cells by

limiting the passage of molecules and ions
through the space between cells.

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 LATERAL MODIFICATIONS
2. GAP JUNCTIONS
(communicating junctions)

- They directly connect the cytoplasm of

two cells, which allows various molecules,
ions and electrical impulses to directly pass
through a regulated gate between cells
- gap junctions are important in
intercellular communication and coordination
by mediating the rapid exchange of small
molecules between two adjacent cells
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 LATERAL MODIFICATIONS
3. ADHERENS JUNCTION (Zonula Adherens)

- mediates the adhesion of cells to other cells

or to the extracellular matrix
- stabilizes the cells position, provide stability
and rigidity, and support tissue integrity by holding
cell sheets together

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 LATERAL MODIFICATIONS

4. DESMOSOMES (Macula Adherens)

- specialized adhesive protein complexes that

localize to intercellular junctions
- form the adhesive bonds in a network that
gives mechanical strength to tissues.
(commonly present among epithelial cells that
need to withstand abrasion)

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 BASAL MODIFICATIONS
• These are located at the base or bottom part of
the cell surface which is in contact with the basal
lamina.
• it is the surface closest to the underlying blood
supply,

1. Basal lamina
2. Hemidesmosomes

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 BASAL MODIFICATIONS
1. BASAL LAMINA
- sheet-like structure that underlies all
true epithelial tissues.
- forms a sieve-like barrier between the
epithelium and connective tissue.
-it aids in tissue organization and cell
adhesion and (through trans membrane
linkages with cytoskeletal components) and
helps maintain cell shape
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 BASAL MODIFICATIONS
2. HEMIDESMOSOMES

- are located on the inner surface of

basal plasma membranes in contact with the
basal lamina.
- they help to attach epithelial cells to the
basal lamina. The best examples are found
in the basal layers of stratified squamous
epithelium

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