LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO.

4
THE CELL

Scope of Laboratory Activity

This laboratory activity consists of five (5) worksheets:
Worksheet no. 1 The Cell Structure
Worksheet no. 2 The Cell Division
Worksheet no. 3 Cell Membrane Transport Mechanisms
Worksheet no. 4 Osmosis
Worksheet no. 5 Microscopic Examination of the cell structures

Overview

The cell is the basic unit of a living organism. The cell is known as the body’s building blocks.
However, unlike the building blocks of a house, cells are too small to see individually. Even the
tiniest dot you can make with a pen is much bigger than the biggest of your body’s cell. Your
body is made up of millions and millions of cells.

Objectives
After completing this worksheet, the student will be able to:
1. Identify the basic structure, location, functions and parts of the cell.
2. Describe the phases of cell division
3. Explain the cell membrane transport mechanisms
4. Identify cell structures through microscopic examination
Materials Needed
1. Compound microscope
2. Histologic sections of cells
3. Colored pencils
4. Ammonia or Cologne or any substance with strong odor
5. 3 petri dishes
6. Teaspoon
7. Granulated sugar
8. Ink/Potassium Permanganate Crystals
9. Cold and hot water
10. Medicine Dropper

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020

Worksheet no.1 The Cell Structure
1.1 Complete the following table to fully describe the various parts. Insert your response in the
spaces provided under each heading.

Cell Structure Location Function

External boundary of the Confines cell contents;
cell regulates entry and exit of
materials
Lysosomes

Scatted throughout the cell Controls release of energy

from foods; forms ATP
Projections of the cell Increase the membrane
membrane surface area
Golgi apparatus

Nucleus

Two-rod shaped bodies near Direct formation of the

the nucleus mitotic spindle
Nucleolus

Smooth ER In the cytoplasm Site of steroid synthesis

Rough ER

Attached to membrane Synthesize proteins

systems or scattered in the
cytoplasm
Chromatin

Scattered in the cytoplasm Detoxifies alcohol;

hydrogen peroxide, etc.
Inclusions

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020

1.2 Label correctly all cells parts

10
1
11

12
3

4 13

5 14

6
15

7
16

17
8
18

9 19

Figure 1 Prototypical Human Cell

1._________________________ 11.__________________________
2. _________________________ 12. __________________________
3. _________________________ 13.___________________________
4. _________________________ 14.__________________________
5.__________________________ 15. __________________________
6.__________________________ 16.___________________________
7. __________________________ 17. __________________________
8. __________________________ 18. __________________________
9. __________________________ 19. __________________________
10. _________________________ 20. __________________________

1.3 Answer the following questions:

A. Identify the following organelles with their cellular functions

The site of ATP synthesis: _____________________________________

The site of protein synthesis: ___________________________________
3Collects secretory products and the cell’s packaging center: __________

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020

 Major site of lipid synthesis: ____________________________________
Formed proteins that provide structural support for the cell: ___________
Give rise to spindles used by chromatids during cell division: _________

B. What is the most abundant nutrient that constitutes a cell? ______________

Worksheet no. 2 Cell Division

4.1 Identify the phases of mitosis. Write your answer in the space provided

Figure 2 _________________ Figure 3 ____________________

Figure 4 _____________________

Figure 5 __________________ Figure 6 _________________

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020

 4.2 Answer the following questions

a. What is the significance of chromosomes?

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
b. Define cell differentiation:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
c. Describe in general terms how differentiation occurs:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Worksheet no. 3 Cell Membrane Transport Mechanisms

3.1 Diffusion of gases

Procedure
1. Prepare the materials: Ammonia or cologne or any substance with strong odor.
2. Open the bottle containing the ammonia or cologne.
3. Spray or apply on a body part.
4. Answer the question:
a. Explain why the odor of ammonia or the cologne can be detected in other parts of
the room soon after the bottle was opened or when it was applied in a body part.
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

b. Give an example where the above mechanism (diffusion of gases) can be found in
the human body.____________________________________________________

3.2 Diffusion through liquid

Procedure
1. Prepare the materials: 3 petri dishes teaspoon, granulated sugar ink/Potassium
Permanganate crystals, cold and hot water, medicine dropper
2. Prepare 3 petri dishes.
3. Put in 50ml of ice water in the first dish, 50ml of hot water in the second dish and 1
teaspoon of sugar plus 50ml of tap water in the third dish (well-stirred).
4. Add equal amount of ink using dropper or Potassium permanganate crystals to each
of the dishes.
5. Leave the containers undisturbed while observing the results.
6. Find out the following:
a. The container where the ink/crystals dissolved first.
b. The container where the ink/crystals dissolved last
7. Answer the following questions
a. In which container did the color disperse first? _____________________
b. In which container did it disperse last? __________________

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020

 c. What is the effect of temperature on diffusion? _____________________
Why is this so? ______________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
d. What is the effect of the presence of other molecules on the diffusion of a
given substance? Explain your answer.____________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Worksheet no. 4 Osmosis

4.1 Differentiate Osmosis and Diffusion

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4.2 Define Net Osmosis
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
4.3 Concentration of Solutions

1 2 3

a b c

Figure 7 Microscopic Fields (a-c) containing red blood cells that shows
direction of net osmosis by means of arrows

a. Identify the type of solution in Figure 7

1._______________________
2._______________________
3._______________________
b. Answer the following questions
1. Which microscopic field contains a hypertonic solutions? ________
2. The cells in this field are said to be ______________.

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020

 3. Which microscopic field contains an isotonic bathing solution? ______
4. What does isotonic mean? ____________________________________
5. Which microscopic field contains a hypotonic solution? ______
6. What is happening to the cell in this field and why? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Worksheet no. 5 Microscopic Examination of the cell structures

1. Examine the prepared microscopic slides of the cells under LPO.
2. Draw five cells to show the general cells arrangements and color the cells
3. Shift to HPO. Draw one cell and label the cell membrane, cytoplasm and the nucleus
4. 2 points each

LPO HPO
Specimen: _______________ Specimen: _______________
Magnification = ______ x _______ Magnification = ______ x ______

YOU MAY NOW PROCEED TO THE NEXT LABORATORY ACTIVITY

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020

References
Adapted Images
Figure 2 to Figure 6
https://www.philpoteducation.com/mod/book/view.php?id=777&chapterid=1122#/
https://www.pinterest.ph/paigemeece/project-8-cell-cycle/
Figure 1 and Figure 7 OpenStax (2017) Anatomy and Physiology
Marieb, Elaine.(2002). Anatomy & Physiology Coloring Workbook 6th Edition. Pearson
Education Asia Pte.Ltd
Allen, Connie and Harper, Valerie. (2011) Laboratory Manual for Anatomy and Physiology. 4th
Edition. Jon Wiley & Sons. Inc.
Paguio,JT, Valera, MJT Valera, Abad, PJ. (2011) Laboratory Manual for Anatomy and
Physiology (some contents are adapted from this manual)

Laboratory Activity No. 4 The Cells_NSBALLENA 2020