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Cell Structures

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Cell Structure Objectives

  • Identify various organelles within a cell.

  • Match different cellular activities to specific organelles.

  • Describe the structure of the plasma membrane including how it relates to diffusion.

It’s a good time to check the quality of your notes.  Use your notes to answer these questions:

A ______ is a group of cells, like this group of fat cells (adipocytes).

 

1a3 Cell Structures
1a3 Cell Structures

What are the functions of each of these four general tissue types in the human body?

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What is a misconception?

Why is thinking that eating a completely fat-free diet a misconception?

All organisms are made of cells from a single-celled bacterium to a human with trillions of cells.  Many features are similar, even between two dramatically different species like an animal and a plant.

From this video, list three differences between the animal and plant cell.

You can select the closed captioning “cc” option if you would like to see the text.

Cells and their organelles maintain homeostasis (balance) in the body.

These are six of the organelles:

Often called the "brain" of a cell, it contains the cell's genetic material. Large cells like skeletal muscle cells can have several nuclei instead of just one.

Nucleus

Often called the “brain” of a cell, it contains the cell’s genetic material. Large cells like skeletal muscle cells can have several nuclei instead of just one.
Often called the "powerhouse" of a cell, producing energy-rich ATP molecules. A single cell can have many mitochondria.

Mitochondrion

Often called the “powerhouse” of a cell, producing energy-rich ATP molecules. A single cell can have many mitochondria.
Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) produces proteins, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) produces lipids and more.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) produces proteins, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) produces lipids and more.
Where the amino acid chains from the endoplasmic reticulum are processed to make functioning proteins.

Golgi Complex

Where the amino acid chains from the endoplasmic reticulum are processed to make functioning proteins.
Has enzymes that break down bacteria, old organelles, and other unneeded substances.

Lysosome

Has enzymes that break down bacteria, old organelles, and other unneeded substances.
Contains substances a cell produces, including hormones, and secretes them at the plasma membrane.

Vesicle

Contains substances a cell produces, including hormones, and secretes them at the plasma membrane.
This video shows the organelles within an animal cell.
Now, use your notes and check your knowledge of cell structures.

The plasma membrane that surrounds cells has to let some things into the cell, move some substances out of the cell, and block other substances completely.  This video introduces the process of diffusion.

The plasma membrane has structural features that make diffusion and active transport possible.

You can select the closed captioning “cc” option if you would like to see the text.

The plasma membrane is the barrier between a cell and it’s environment.  It needs to allow movement of beneficial materials into the cell and harmful materials out of the cell.
1a3 Cell Structures

The plasma membrane consists of two layers of phospholipids. Each phospholipid molecule has two parts, commonly referred to as the “head” and the “tail.”

The heads are water-soluble and face outward, and the tails are water-insoluble and face inward.

 

Some substances move simply across membranes; other need to travel with the assistance of proteins embedded in the phospholipid membrane.

Substances move down their concentration gradient. If the concentration is lower in the cell, they can move inside.

Simple Diffusion

Substances move down their concentration gradient. If the concentration is lower in the cell, they can move inside.
Proteins assist substance movement through facilitated diffusion and the more energy-expensive active transport.

Protein Assistance

Proteins assist substance movement through facilitated diffusion and the more energy-expensive active transport.
Looking for something to do at home with family?  Make a cell model! This one is out of candy and jello.

Consider making your own representation of a cell (or skin model in the next section).  Add a caption description and you can use it to help answer quiz questions and also add it to your final course portfolio. 

Would you like to test your knowledge of cellular structures?  If so, there are a few more reference videos in this guide’s resource page.
Cells Resources
The next section introduces different cellular shapes as well as cellular life stages.
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Check your knowledge.  Can you:

  • identify various organelles within a cell?

  • match different cellular activities to specific organelles?

  • describe the structure of the plasma membrane including how it relates to diffusion?

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Complete all four of these sections before taking the quiz and making your media piece.
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