Introduction

To

Cell physiology

PHYSIOLOGY

Study of normal processes and functions in living organisms and the mechanisms by which these are carried out and regulated.

Medical physiology concentrates on human physiology

It Helps in maintenance of adaptation and homeostasis , 2 fundamental features of life

STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION

STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION OF CELL

3 Principal constituents of cell :

1. 2.

Cell Membrane
Nucleus &

its chromosomes
3.

Cytoplasm &

its organelles

Typical structures found in body cells

CELL MEMBRANE

It is also called plasma membrane or unit membrane. It is a flexible ,selective barrier that encloses the cell contents. The average thickness of the membrane is 7-10 nm.

STRUCTURE OF CELL MEMBRANE

It is described using the FLUID MOSAIC MODEL.
It was discovered by SINGER and NICHOLSON in 1972 . The molecular arrangement of the plasma membrane resembles an ever-moving sea of fluid lipids that contains a mosaic of many different proteins.

COMPOSITION OF MEMBRANE
LIPIDS

42 % 55 % 3%

( 40-45 % ) ( 50-60 % )

PROTEINS CARBOHYDRATES

FUNCTIONS OF CELL MEMBRANE

1. 2. 3.

Protective Maintains a constant intracellular enviornment. Digestive

4.
5. 6. 7.

Selective permeability
Insulating properties Structural framework Recognizes foreign cells

CELL ORGANELLES

The Endoplasmic Reticulum

surrounds the nucleus.

: is a network of

intracellular membranes connected tothe nuclear envelope , which

1.

ER has four major functions:

Synthesis :Specialized regions of the ER synthesize

proteins,carbohydrates, and lipids.

2.

Storage :- store synthesized molecules or materials absorbed from

the cytosol without affecting other cellular operations.

3. 4.

Transport:- Materials can travel from place to place in the ER. Detoxification :- Drugs or toxins can be absorbed by the ER and neutralized by enzymes within it

Golgi apparatus :

Typically consists of five or six flattened membranous discs

called cisternae .
The Golgi apparatus has three major functions:
(1)

modifies and packages secretions, such as hormones or enzymes, for release through exocytosis

(2)

renews or modifies the plasma membrane; and packages special enzymes within vesicles for use in the cytoplasm.

(3)

 MITOCHONDRIA
i. ii.

They are power generating units of cell They provide energy for performing many functions of cell by metabolism using nutrients and oxygen

iii.

The number varies from 100-1000 depending on energy

requirement of that cell

iv. v.

The size is 1 length varies from 5-12 The shape varies from globular, sausage to filamentous form

LYSOSOMES

They are large irregular vesicular structures bounded by unit membrane.

Size varies from 250-750 m. They are filled with granules, size 5-8 nm which are aggregates of protein hydrolytic enzymes mainly acid hydrolase.

They remove unwanted substances and bacteria, providing

intracellular digestive system .

FUNCTIONS OF LYSOSOMES
1.

Lysosomes also engulf worn out components of cell forming Autophagic vacuole.

2.

Lysosomal enzymes also cause autolysis of the remnants of a dead cell called AUTODIGESTION. Thus they are called as SUICIDAL BAGS.
The lysosomes provide an Intracellular digestive system that allows the cell to digest within itself
damaged cell structures food particles ingested unwanted matter e.g. bacteria

CELL DIVISION

It is the process by which cells reproduce themselves. 2 types 1. Somatic cell division

2. Reproductive cell division

A somatic cell is any cell of the body other than a germ cell. A germ cell is a gamete (sperm or oocyte)

Somatic cell division : a cell undergoes a nuclear division called

mitosis and a cytoplasmic division called cytokinesis to produce two genetically identical cells, each with the same number and

kind of chromosomes as the original cell.

It replaces dead or injured cells and adds new ones during tissue growth.

Cell cycle.

MITOSIS

1.

2.

3.

4.

Mitotic phase : Parent cell produces identical cells with identical chromosomes. Mitosis : Nuclear division; distribution of two sets of chromosomes into separate nuclei. Prophase : Chromatin fibers condense into paired chromatids; nucleolus and nuclear envelope disappear; each centrosome moves to an opposite pole of the cell. Metaphase :- Centromeres of chromatid pairs line up at metaphase plate. Anaphase :- Centromeres split; identical sets of chromosomes move to opposite poles of cell. Telophase :-Nuclear envelopes and nucleoli reappear; chromosomes resume chromatin form; mitotic spindle disappears. Cytokinesis :- Cytoplasmic division; contractile ring forms cleavage furrow around center of cell, dividing cytoplasm into separate and equal portions.

Reproductive cell division : It is the mechanism that

produces gametes.

Gametes : The cells needed to form the next generation of

sexually reproducing organisms.

This process consists of a special 2 step division called

meiosis, in which the number of chromosomes in the nucleus

is reduced by half.

MEIOSIS

It is a specialized process of cell division that occurs only in the production of gametes within the female ovary or male testes It consists of two divisions (meiosis I and meiosis II), which result in the formation of four gametes, each containing half the number of chromosomes (23 single chromosomes) and half the amount of DNA (1N) found in normal somatic cells (46 single chromosomes, 2N). Meiosis I :

Synapsis: pairing of 46 homologous duplicated chromosomes. Crossing over: exchange of large segments of DNA. Alignment : alignment of 46 homologous duplicated chromosomes at the metaphase plate. Disjunction: separation of 46 homologous duplicated chromosomes from each other; centromeres do not split. Cell division: formation of two secondary gametocytes (23 duplicated chromosomes, 2N).

Meiosis II. Events that occur during meiosis II include the following:

Synapsis: absent. Crossing over : absent. Alignment: alignment of 23 duplicated chromosomes at the metaphase plate. Disjunction: separation of 23 duplicated chromosomes to form 23 single chromosomes; centromeres split. Cell division: formation of four gametes (23 single chromosomes, 1N).