FISIOLOGIA HUMAN

2023-2024

Puente Prats Gerard

INSTITUT QUÍMIC DE SARRIÀ
TEMA 1: INTRODUCCIÓN: LA CÉLULA COMO UNIDAD DE VIDA.

CELL AS THE BASIC LIVING UNIT

 35-40 trillion cells in the human body (not counting the microbiota)
 Functions:
o Provide structure for the body’s tissues and organs.
o Perform specialized functions.
o Nutrition (nutrients to energy).
o Synthesis of substances.
o Reproduction (copies of themselves).
 Types of tissue: muscle, nervous, epithelium and connective.
 Parts of the cell:
o Nucleus.
o Cytoplasm.
o Membranes (nuclear and cellular/plasma).
o Protoplasm – substances inside cells.
 Water
 Electrolytes (K+, Mg2+, phosphate, sulfate, etc.)
 Proteins (structural and functional)
 Lipids (make up of membranes and energy storage)
 Carbohydrates (nutrition and structural

MEMBRANOUS STRUCTURES IN THE CELL

-We can find different types of cells in a membrane:

o Cell membrane.
o Nuclear membrane.
o Endoplasmic reticulum membrane (REL and RER)
o Mitochondria, lysosomes, and Golgi apparatus membranes.

-The membranous structures in the cell are mainly composed of lipids (phospholipids and cholesterol) and
proteins.

-Integral proteins provide specialized pathways, and transmembrane enzymes catalyze reactions.

CELL MEMBRANE

 Function of the cell membrane:

o Barrier (lipids)
o Transport (lipids & proteins)
o Structural (carbohydrates)
o Signaling (proteins & carbohydrates)

The lipids create a lipid bilayer in a fluid mosaic model. Are semi-permeable, which allows the transport
through it. There are 3 types of transports made by lipids and 3 types of pf lipids.
  Types of lipids:
o Phospholipids: most abundant lipid, hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.
o Sphingolipids: derived sphingosine, hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups and present in small
amounts in the cell membranes, especially nerve cells.
o Cholesterol: steroid-like molecule, dissolved in membrane.
 Types of transport (lipids):
o Free diffusion: hydrophobic, non-polar & small, polar.
o Protein-mediated transport: larger polar & ions.
o Endocytosis (fluids & large particles).

The proteins and carbohydrates can have different aspects and there are different types depending on which
part they are located or they components.

 Peripheral proteins: Attached only on one surface of the membrane. Often attached to integral
proteins. Enzymes or controllers of transport.

 Types of carbohydrates:
o Glycoproteins: Oligosaccharides attached to proteins. Different
in structure to proteoglycans. 90% of carbohydrates on the cell
membrane.
o Glycolipids: Only 10% of cell membrane.
o
o Dangle outside the membrane: Provide overall negative charge.
Act as receptors for hormones. Provide attachment to other cells. Key role in immune

reactions.

CYTOPLASM & ORGANELLES

-The cytosol is mainly composed of: [proteins, electrolytes, and glucose], [fat globules and glycogen
granules]and [ribosomes and vesicles].
-The organelles are mainly composed of: [endoplasmic reticulum], [Golgi apparatus], mitochondria,
[lysosomes] and [peroxisomes]

ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM

-Network of interconnected tubular structures. Is a molecule of processing and transport. Its surface is 30-40
times larger than the cell membrane. 2 types.

 Rough ER:
o Ribosomes attached to outer surfaces.
o Synthesis of new proteins
 Smooth ER:
o No ribosomes
o Synthesis of lipids.

GOLGI APPARATUS

-It’s like the smooth ER. Is made for 4 or more stacked layers of thin, fat, enclosed vesicles lying near one side
of the nucleus. Works in association with the ER.

Vesicles pinch off from ER and fuse with Golgi.

Processing in Golgi to form lysosomes, vesicles, and other components.

LYSOSOMES

-Break off from Golgi apparatus. Digestive system for damaged cellular structures, food particles and
unwanted matter. Surrounded by lipid bilayer.

-Protein aggregates of as many as 40 different hydrolase (digestive) enzymes.

o Proteins --o amino acids.

o Glycogen --o glucose. --o = degradation / digestion
o Lipids --o fatty acids and glycerol.

PEROXISOMES AND SECRETORY VESICLES

-The peroxisomes are like lysosomes. Break off from smooth ER or self-replication. Contain oxidases
(formation of H2O2). H2O2 + catalases  oxidation of harmful substances (like alcohol).

-The secretory vesicles contain substances (like enzymes) for secretion outside the cell.

ER  Golgi  Vesicles  Extracellular space.

MITOCHONDRIA (MITOCHONDRION)

-Cardiac muscle cells >>> Fat cells.

- Two lipid bilayers: outer and inner membranes: Inner bilayer: cristae (“crestas”) with oxidative enzymes
attached. Large surface area.

- Inner cavities are full of large amounts of enzymes.

- Nutrients  CO2 + H2O + energy. The energy is used to form ATP.

- Mitochondria can self-replicate and contain DNA (inherited only from mother).

CYTOSKELETON

It is mainly composed of microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Characteristics:

 Microfilaments:
o Outer zone of cytoplasm
o Elastic support
o Contractility in muscle cells
 Intermediate filaments:
o Mechanical support for microtubules
o Present in all cells (except in muscle cells, keratins in epithelial cells, etc)
 Microtubules:
o Polymerized tubulin
o Rigid physical structures, determines shape.
o Participates in cell division.
o Conveyor belts for intracellular transport

NUCLEUS

Control center of cell: growth, replication, and death. Contains large quantities of DNA: genes. Genes define
characteristics of cell’s proteins, both structural and enzymes.

 Nuclear membrane:
o Two bilayer membranes.
o Connected to the ER.
o Several thousand nuclear pores.
 Nucleoli:
o Does not have a membrane.
o Accumulation of RNA and protein

NUTRITION [ENDOCYTOSIS]

-The endocytosis catches nutrients from surrounding fluid.

Diffusion: lipid-soluble substances

Active transport: Channels and transporters for small molecules Endocytosis for large particles.

 Types of endocytosis:
o Receptor-mediated: ligand-specific.
o Pinocytosis: “drinking”, ECF fluid vesicles. [no require membrane receptors]
 o Phagocytosis: bacteria and cell debris [specialized cells (macrophages and white cells)]

DIGESTION AND EXCRETION

-Lysosomes attach to vesicles and empty hydrolases – digestive vesicle.

-Small molecules diffuse through membrane (amino acids, glucose, etc.)

-Leftover – residual body – is excreted through exocytosis.

AUTOLYSIS OF DAMAGED CELLS AND REGRESSION OF TISSUES

 Autolysis of damaged cells:

o Damaged to cells (heat, trauma, chemicals) induces lysosome rupture and release of
hydrolases.
o Slight damage small portion of cell removed and repaired.
o Severe damage  Cell completely removed and new cell formed.
 Autolysis of damaged cells:
o Lysosomes are responsible for digesting parts of tissues to smaller size.
o Uterus after pregnancy, muscles during inactivity, mammary glands at end of lactation

AUTOPHAGY AND RECYCLING OF ORGANELLES

PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH - APOPTOSIS

-Cell division is balanced with cell death. Apoptosis: suicidal

programmed death. Proteolytic cascade initiated by caspases.

1. Cell shrinks.
2. Cytoskeleton disassembles
3. Membrane prepares for phagocytosis

Orderly cell death, no inflammation or injury to neighbouring cells

(as opposed to necrosis). Dysregulations of apoptosis associated
with diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or cancer.

APOPTOSIS SIGNALLING PATHWAYS (NO CAL SABER ESPECÍFICAMENT)