General Medical Biology: Lecture 3: Cell Structure and Function
General Medical Biology: Lecture 3: Cell Structure and Function
General Medical Biology: Lecture 3: Cell Structure and Function
Cytoplasm includes
• Cytosol
• Organelles
1. Cytosol
Mitochondria
• The mitochondrion (plural mitochondria) is a double membrane -bound organelle found almost in
all eukaryotic organisms.
• Mitochondria generate most of the cell’s supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) so it is known as the
power house of the cell.
• The cellular content of mitochondria varies widely by organism, tissue, and cell type. For instance, red
blood cells have no mitochondria, whereas liver cells (hepatocytes) have more than 2000.
Intermembrane space
Mitochondria
Structure of Mitochondria
lumen
▪ The membranes of the ER are continuous with
the outer nuclear membrane (perinuclear
space). 7
▪ The Golgi apparatus is responsible for transporting, modifying (phosphorylation and glycosylation),
and packaging proteins (Secretory proteins and glycoproteins, cell membrane proteins,
lysosomal proteins) and lipids (glycolipids ) into vesicles for delivery to targeted destinations.
1. Heterophagy
• Heterophagy is the lysosomal
digestion of extracellular
materials which are engulfed
(take into the cell) by the
process of endocytosis.
• There are types of heterophagy
including: phagocytosis
(/faɡə(ʊ)sʌɪˈtəʊsɪs/) and
pinocytosis.
• Phagocytosis: is a cellular process for ingesting and eliminating particles
larger than 0.5 μm in diameter, including microorganisms, foreign substances,
and apoptotic cells.
▪ Peroxisomes are membrane bound organelles, existing in the cytoplasm of almost all
eukaryotic cells.
peroxide (H2O)2.
It is a complex network of interlinking filaments and tubules that extend throughout the cytoplasm.
The primary types of fibers comprising the cytoskeleton include:
1. Microtubules
Microtubules are cylindrical tubes, act as a scaffold to determine cell shape and form the spindle
fibers for separating chromosomes during mitosis.
2. Microfilaments are fine, thread-like protein fibers
• They are composed predominantly of a contractile protein called actin, which is the
most abundant cellular protein.
muscle contraction.
3. Intermediate filaments provide mechanical strength and resistance to shear stress.
▪ There are several types of intermediate filaments, each constructed from one or more
proteins.
• Keratins are found in epithelial cells, hair and nails
• Neurofilaments strengthen the long axons of neurons
Thank you for your attention