CELL – STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

• The term “cells” was first coined in 1665 by a

British scientist Robert Hooke. He was the first
person to study living things under a microscope
and examined a thin slice of cork under a
Who microscope and observed honeycomb-like
structures. Robert Hooke called these structures
discovered as cells
• Soon after this Antonie Van Leuwenhoek made
cells ? further discoveries by inventing his own
microscope lenses that were more powerful than
the microscopes of his time. He was the first
person to observe human cells and bacteria under
his microscope.
Cell theory
• Schleiden and Schwann first proposed the cell
theory, which was later modified by Rudolf
Virchow. Since the discovery of the first cells,
cell theory has evolved and grown, and many
amazing experiments have been designed to
demonstrate its many components. The modern
iteration of the cell theory consists of the
following concepts:
• Energy moves through cells.
• DNA is transferred from cell to cell, carrying
genetic information.
• All cells share the same primary chemical
makeup.
Levels of organisation
• A human cell is made up of flexible membranes that encapsulate
cytoplasm, a water -based cellular fluid, and a number of small
functional components known as organelles.
• A tissue is a collection of numerous comparable cells that work
together to execute a certain function (albeit it may be made up of a few
related types).
• An organ is a bodily structure made up of two or more tissue types that
are anatomically separate.
• Each organ is responsible for one or more physiological processes. An
organ system is a collection of organs that operate together to carry
out significant functions or meet the body's physiological
requirements.
• In anatomy and physiology, the organism level is the highest level of
organization. An organism is a living being with a cellular structure that
can conduct all of the physiologic tasks required for survival on its own.
• All cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems in multicellular creatures,
including humans, work together to maintain the organism's life and
health.
Organisms show Variety in
Cell Number, Shape and Size
• How do scientists observe and
study the living cells? They use
microscopes which magnify
objects. Stains (dyes) are used to
color parts of the cell to study the
detailed structure. There are
millions of living organisms. They
are of different shapes and sizes.
Their organs also vary in shape,
size and number of cells. Let us
study about some of them
 (a) Number of Cells
• Organisms made of more than one cell are called
multicellular (multi : many; cellular : cell) organisms.
The number of cells being less in smaller organisms
does not, in any way, affect the functioning of the
organisms. You will be surprised to know that an
organism with billions of cells begins life as a single
cell which is the fertilized egg. The fertilized egg cell
multiplies and the number of cells increase as
development proceeds Both organisms are made up of
a single cell. The single-celled organisms are called
unicellular (unit : one; cellular : cell) Can you guess,
which part of the cell gives it shape? Components of
the cell are enclosed in a membrane. This membrane
provides shape to the cells of plants and animals. Cell
wall is an additional covering over the cell membrane
in plant cells. It gives shape and rigidity to these cells
(Fig. 8.7). Bacterial cell also has a cell wall.
Unicellular vs
multicellular
(b) Shape of the cell

• Usually, the cells are round,

elongated or spherical. There
are also some cells which are
long and pointed on both the
ends. Such cells exhibit spindle
shape. In some cases, the cells
are very long. Some may be
branched like the neuron or the
nerve cell. The nerve cell
transfers and receives
messages.
(c) Size of Cells
The size of cells in living organisms
may be as small as a millionth of a
metre (micrometre or micron) or may
be as large as a few centimetres.
However, most of the cells are
microscopic in size and are not visible
to the unaided eye. They need to be
enlarged or magnified by a
microscope. The smallest cell is 0.1 to
0.5 micrometre in bacteria. The largest
cell measuring 170 mm ×130 mm, is the
egg of an ostrich. The size of the cells
has no relation with the size of the
body of the animal or plant.
(d) Divison of
the labour
• 'Division of labour' is a term that
describes the specialised
functions of cell organelles
which come together to ensure
the cell is capable of surviving as
well as performing it's role in the
body. For example, beta cells in
the pancreas are responsible for
releasing insulin into the
bloodstream.
Structure of cell

• A cell consists of three parts: the

cell membrane, the nucleus, and,
between the two, the cytoplasm.
Within the cytoplasm lie intricate
arrangements of fine fibers and
hundreds or even thousands of
miniscule but distinct structures
called organelles.
(a)Cell wall
• A cell wall is defined as a rigid,
external layer that is specifically
designed to provide structural
support and rigidity. It also keeps
the interior components of the cell
intact and safe from the external
environment.
 • The cell membrane, also called the plasma membrane,
is found in all cells and separates the interior of the cell
(b) Cell from the outside environment. The cell membrane
membrane consists of a lipid bilayer that is semipermeable. The
cell membrane regulates the transport of materials
entering and exiting the cell.
(c) Nucleus
• A nucleus, as related to genomics, is the
membrane-enclosed organelle within a
cell that contains the chromosomes. An
array of holes, or pores, in the nuclear
membrane allows for the selective
passage of certain molecules (such as
proteins and nucleic acids) into and out of
the nucleus.
(d) Cytoplasm
• Cytoplasm is the gelatinous
liquid that fills the inside of a
cell. It is composed of water,
salts, and various organic
molecules. Some intracellular
organelles, such the nucleus
and mitochondria, are
enclosed by membranes that
separate them from the
cytoplasm.
 (e) Cell organelles

The centrosome
Golgi Apparatus is organelle is made up
Mitochondria are Vacuoles are mostly
called the
The Endoplasmic also termed as Golgi of two mutually
defined as storage A tiny, circular- Chloroplasts are double
Reticulum is a Complex. It is a Ribosomes are non perpendicular shaped, single membrane-bound
powerhouses of the bubbles of irregular
network of membrane-bound membrane-bound and structures known as membrane-bound organelles, which usually
cell as they produce important cytoplasmic shapes which are
organelle, which is centrioles. Each organelles, filled
vary in their shape – from a
energy-rich membranous mainly composed of a organelles found in centriole is
found in cells. They disc shape to spherical,
molecules for the cell. canals filled with close association with are fluid-filled with digestive discoid, oval and ribbon.
series of flattened, composed of 9
The mitochondrial the endoplasmic organelles enclosed enzymes. Helps in They are present in
fluid. They are the stacked pouches equally spaced mesophyll cells of leaves,
genome is inherited reticulum. Ribosomes
peripheral fibrils of
by a membrane. The the digestion and
maternally in several transport system called cisternae. This are found in the form of vacuole stores the removes wastes and
which store chloroplasts
and other carotenoid
of the cell, cell organelle is tiny particles in a large tubulin protein, and
organisms. It is a food or a variety of digests dead and pigments. These pigments
primarily responsible number of cells and are the fibril is a set of
double membrane- involved in for transporting, mainly composed of interlinked triplets.
nutrients that a cell damaged cells. are responsible for trapping
light energy for
bound, sausage- transporting mat might need to survive. Therefore, it is also
modifying, and 2/3rd of RNA and 1/3rd of The core part of the photosynthesis. The inner
shaped organelle, In addition to this, it called as the
found in almost all
erials throughout packaging proteins protein. centriole is known as
also stores waste
membrane encloses a
space called the stroma.
the cell. and lipids to targeted a hub and is “suicidal bags”.
eukaryotic cells. products.
destinations. proteinaceous.
Comparison
between animal and
plant cell
Prokarytes
vs
eukarytes