THE CELL

1. Definition of the Cell:

- the structural and functional unit of living
organisms

- is a system by itself that can exist in a
medium from other living organisms
- Discovered by Robert Hooke in 1665 from
the bark of a tree

II. Structures of the Cell:

1. Plasma / Cell Membrane

is a thin limiting membrane that encloses
the cell, defining the boundaries between
the ECF and ICF
it functions for: support, protection, and
passage of substances to and from the
cell

is semi-permeable and is made up of
bilipid layer with protein


- provides identity to the cell
Cell Wall:

is found outside the cell membrane

made up mainly of cellulose in plants and
algae; murein in bacteria and chitin in
fungi
2. Protoplasm
- the living substance within the cell
- located inner to the cell
membrane

- Physical properties:

1. Colloidal
2. Transparent
3. Colorless
4. Elastic
- Chemical Properties

1. Inorganic Compounds:

a. Water most abundant,
makes up 80-85%
- absorbs heat
b. Salts and Minerals
c. Gases
d. Organic Compounds:
d.1. Carbohydrates supply
energy for metabolic
processes

types:
1. Monosaccharides : glucose,
fructose & galactose
2. Disaccharides : lactose, maltose
& sucrose
3. Polysaccharides: cellulose,
starch, glycogen


d.2. Lipids

constituent of the cell membrane
types:
1. fats
2. oil
d.3. Proteins

- responsible for growth, repair and
differentiation of worn out tissues
3. Cytoplasm
- contains the organelles which are
the integral components of the
cell
a. Mitochondria

-ovoid/filamentous/sausage-shaped
-has 2 layers
- in-foldings of the inner layer are
termed cristae
- called as the powerhouse of the
cell
- produce energy (ATP)- adenosine
triphosphate
- chief center during cellular
respiration

b. GolgiBodies/Complex/Apparatus
/Dictyosomes

- stacks of 5-15 cisternae
associated with small vesicles
and large clear vacuoles
- size: 0.5-2um
- number per cell: 400
- function:

packaging stations of the cell

- was discovered by Camille Golgi
c. Ribosomes

- small, spherical or granular
bodies
- size: 15-25 um
- number per cell: 500,000
function:

- protein synthesis
d. Endoplasmic Reticulum

is a winding network of
membranes interconnected with
each other

it provides channels which
transport materials to the
cytoplasm

Types:

a. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
(ER)

contains ribosomes on its
surface

function:

- protein synthesis

b. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
(SER)

devoid of ribosomes

function: produces lipids,
examples: cholesterol,
carbohydrates (glycogen)
e. Lysosomes

vesicles present only among animal
cells which are surrounded by a
membrane

contain hydrolytic enzymes w/c break
down large organic molecules e.g.
proteins, lipids, carbohydrates
f. Centrioles

granular bodies located outside
the nucleus ; are involved in the
movement of chromosomes
during cell division
h. Microfilaments

are thread-like structures for
support and movement

present among muscle cells
3. Nucleus
- the control center of the cell

- regulates growth and
reproduction of the cell

Ergastic Substances:
- are the non-living substances
within the cell

- lifeless accumulations inside the
cell

a. Vacuoles

are membrane-bound bodies
containing various substances in
dilute solution for food storage
(food vacuole); removal of waste
(excretory vacuole) and water
storage (central vacuole
Plant Cells
1.Cell Wall
- rigid; non-living that is secreted by the
protoplast
- skeletal framework
- secreted by the protoplast
- made up of cellulose
- its older portion is on the outside; its
newer one on the inside
2. Protoplast portion within the cell wall

A. Plasma/Cell Membrane found outside
the cytoplasm next to the cell wall
- is semi-permeable
- controls the exchange of materials into
and out of the cell

2. Cytoplasm protoplasm outside the
nucleus
A. Cytoplasmic Organelles:
a. Plastids spherical/ovoid/collar-
shaped/ribbon-like
- can replicate
types:
a.1. Chloroplasts seat of photosynthesis
among green plants
- have green pigments: chlorophyll a & b

a.2. Chromoplasts yellow/orange/red
pigments
- are found in fruits and petals of
flowers

a.3. Leucoplasts colorless plastids; found
in epidermal cells of leaves
and bulbs
- types:

1. amyloplasts storage of starch
2. lipids/oil - elaioplasts
3. proteins - aleurone -plasts
b. Mitochondria -ovoid/filamentous/sausage-
shaped
c. Dictyosomes/Golgi bodies

d. Ribosomes small, spherical or granular
bodies

e. Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

f. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

- types:

g.1. peroxisomes isolated from leaves
- contain oxidative enzymes
g.2. glyoxysomes isolated from castor
bean seeds
- contain oxidative enzymes

h. Spherosomes

spherical organelles
-size: 2 um
- function: storage of lipid materials
- called as lipid bodies/fat bodies/wax
bodies
- found in: cotyledons of many seeds
3. Nucleus

- Control center of the cell
- parts:
1. Nuclear Membrane/ Nucleolemma
2. Nuclear Sap/Karyolymph
3. Nucleolus
4. Nuclear Net/Chromatin Network
Ergastic Substances:

1. Water vacuoles
- small or large cavities having more
content than the rest of the cytoplasm
- cell sap- is the fluid within;

g. Microbodies

- spherical organelles about the size of
the mitochondria or smaller
- size: 0.5-1.5 um
- contain oxidative enzymes or hydrolytic
enzymes

2. Crystals

first objects seen in plant cell
- waste products or excretory materials of
the protoplast
- they are located inside the water vacuoles
and they contain calcium oxalate
3. Stored Foods

= these materials are formed when excess
foods are produced by the plant

= are broken down and utilized by the plant
during periods when food is not produced
in sufficient qualities or when seed
germinates or when tuber sprouts to form
a new plant
1. Starch Grains

e.g. cells of potato tubers and in green
leaves


2. Oil Globules e.g. cells of avocado fruits


3. Aleurone Grains

stored proteins in cells of many seeds