Growth & Death
Molecules and Signalling
Protein Synthesis
ATP Production
Electrolytes
Cell Structures
Tissue Structure
Cardiac Output
Cardiac Cycle
Circulation
Special Circulations
Pulmonary Ventilation
Gas Exchange
Regulation of Respiration
Mouth
Stomach
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
Liver
Vitamins
Other
Nephron
Micturition
Regulation
Embryology
Hormones and Regulation
Fetal Physiology
Pregnancy
Components
Synapses
Sensory System
Motor System
Ocular Physiology
Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
Adrenal Glands
The Pancreas
Hypothalamus and Pituitary
Cells of the Immune System
Innate Immune System
Adaptive Immune System
Immune Responses
Infections
Haematology
In this section, we will consider the very building blocks of life. The structures within a single cell underpin every process in this website, and we will go through these in detail.
Firstly we will describe the structure and function of the nucleus. Every eukaryotic cell contains a nucleus. The nucleus has three main functions. These are gene expression, processing of pre-mRNA and compartmentalisation. In addition, the nucleus contains a nucleolus within it, which is the primary site for ribosome synthesis
Next we will consider the mitochondria, famously entitled ‘the powerhouse of the cell’. Mitochondria are cell organelles with a typical size of 0.75-3 micrometers. They are found in most mammalian cells. They play an essential role by hosting the electron transport chain, responsible for synthesising ATP. They also host mitochondrial DNA which is inherited maternally.
Lysosomes are a key component in the effective function of human cells. Small and often overlooked, lysosomes work as part of the recycling system of the cell. In this article, we will look at the structure, synthesis and function of lysosomes, and their role in some pathologies.
The endoplasmic reticulum is the major site of synthesis in the cell. It is a system of flattened sacs (cisternae) that extend from (and are continuous) with the outer nuclear envelope – taking up a significant volume of the cell (over half of the membranous components in the cell).
The golgi apparatus is a membrane bound organelle found in most cells. It has a function in packaging proteins and is implicated in the secretory pathway. In this article we shall look at the structure and function of the golgi apparatus and its role in Wilson’s disease.
Cell membranes are responsible for a variety of important functions within the body, such as allowing control of the enclosed environment. In this article we shall consider the main functions of the cell membrane, the composition of membranes and clinical conditions in which a portion of the cell membrane is abnormal.
by Namita Anand
by Charlotte Smith
by Tanzeelah Jamadar
Please enter your username or email address below. You will receive a link to create a new password via emai and please check that the email hasn't been delivered into your spam folder.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you relevant advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy.