Cellular Structure and Function in Human Body

This essay explores the concept of cellular structure and function in the human body. It discusses the characteristics of cells, their structures and components, the cell theory, and the functions of cells. It also explores the application of cell function theory in clinical aesthetic work. The essay provides a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Human Structure and Function

Table of Contents
Topic: Cellular structure and function.............................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

Topic: Cellular structure and function
Human body refers to a structure that compose of a range of cells, which creates tissues and
organ systems for its viability (Caruso Bavisotto and et. al., 2019). It consists head, arms, trunks,
legs and feet which provide a systematic structure to a body. In this regard, studying the concept
of human body involves a number of subjects such as embryology, physiology, anatomy and
histology. Therefore, it is typical to understand complete body system as a whole, which includes
tissue structure, cellular structure, endocrine system and more (Bianconi, 2018). The present
essay is going to elaborate one of the human body system i.e. Cellular structure and function.
For this purpose, a number of questions are framed for understanding this system.
What is a cell?
A cell can be defined as the structural, fundamental and functional unit of a life, which
can replicate itself in independent manner, to create tissues. Therefore, this smallest unit is also
known as building blocks of life, where every cell contains a fluid as cytoplasm. This fluid is
enclosed within a body by membrane and thus, cellular structure is called as cell organelles
which are suspended within cytoplasm (Sarrat-Torres and et. al., 2020). A body contains
generally trillions of cells where at adult age, it becomes roughly 30 to 37 trillions. Robert Hooke
was considered as the first person who has discovered cells and made a remarkable advancement
within field of science. This discovery has further helped the other biologist to understand
anatomy and interaction among different systems, within a living body (Zhou and et. al., 2018).
Discovering the cell theory and understanding different functions of cells, aid scientists to study
the life in better manner.
Characteristics of cells
In a human body, several types of cells are performed different-different functions like
providing structure and support to organs. Therefore, on the basis of cellular structure, two types
of cells are found as Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. In general, the common characteristics of cells
are – cell interior which is organised within different organelles individually and surrounded by
separate membrane (Klaips, Jayaraj and Hartl, 2018). Along with this, the major organelle i.e.
nucleus is present in each cell that holds genetic based information, which is necessary to
understand the cell growth and reproduction system. In context with types of cells, prokaryotic
ones have no nucleus, they are known as single-celled microorganism like archaea,
cyanobacteria, bacteria and more. Therefore, size of such cells in diameter are ranges from
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0.1μm to 0.5 μm and are usually reproduced by a simple form of sexual reproduction i.e. binary
fission. Moreover, heredity materials of prokaryotic cells can either be RNA or DNA. In context
with Eukaryotic cells, they can be characterised as true nucleus and often ranges from 10 to 100
μm in diameter (Li and et. al., 2019). These types of cells are broadly categorised as protozoans,
fungi and more, which are reproduces either sexually or asexually.
Cellular Structures and its components
The structure of cells comprises the individual components for carrying out life’s process,
with specific functions such as cell wall, cytoplasm, cell membrane, cell organelles and nucleus.
The cell membrane is present within all cells of a human body that supports as well as protects
the cell and controls each movement of substances inside and outside of cells (Liu, Detwiler and
Tovar, 2018). It separates cells from its external environment. The cell membrane within body
refers to outer covering of a cell, which enclosed all organelles, like cytoplasm and nucleus,
therefore, also known as the plasma membrane (Klaips, Jayaraj and Hartl, 2018). Another
component present within cellular structure is cell wall, which is the most prominent part of cell
structure of plant cell. It is usually made up of pectin, cellulose, and hemicellulose that protects
all cellular components including plasma membrane. In a living body, cell wall provides shape
and support as well as protect the cells from injuries and mechanical shocks. While, cytoplasm
refers to a thick and jelly-like substance which is present within cell membrane and most of the
chemical reaction takes place in it. Talking about nucleus, it contains hereditary type of cell
material i.e. DNA and send signals to the cells for growing, replicating, maturing, dividing and
die.
Concept of Cell Theory
After discovery of cell by Robert Hooke, further cell theory was proposed by three
German scientists Rudolf Virchow, Theodor Schwann and Matthias Schleiden (Zhou and et. al.,
2018). This theory states that as cell is a basic function of life therefore, all living species are
composed of it. As per modern theory, it has been formulated that energy flows inside the cells
and chemical composition of each cell is same. Along with this, information related to genetic is
also passed from one cell to another in a living body.
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Functions of cell
The main functions of cell include its support and structure as well as growth which is
facilitated by mitosis (Li and et. al., 2019). It provides energy, helps in reproduction and allows
transportations of substances also. These functions can be elaborated in following way –
All the organisms within a body are made up of cells, which form a structural basis. The
main components of cell viz. cell wall and the cell membrane provide support and structure to
them (Sarrat-Torres and et. al., 2020). For an instance, skin of living body is made up with a
large number of cells. In the mitosis process, the parent cells are divided into their daughter cells,
which facilitates the further growth in an organism. Moreover, various nutrients inside body are
imported by cells for carrying out several chemical processes that are going on within cells. For
example- waste or excrete produced through chemical processes and eliminated from the cells
via active and passive transport. Along with this, small molecules like oxygen, carbon dioxide,
ethanol and more, are diffused along concentration gradient and across the cell membrane
therefore, this process collectively known as passive transport.
Furthermore, larger molecules are diffused across the cell membrane by active transport
within human body, where the cells to transport substances, require a lot of energy, that helps in
carrying out other chemical processes as well (Bianconi, 2018). This kind of energy is produced
within human body by the cells via a process of respiration. Another main function of a cell
includes reproduction that occurs by two main processes that are mitosis and meiosis. Hereby,
Mitosis is known as the asexual reproduction under which parent cells are divided in order to
form daughter cells. While Meiosis causes such daughter cells for being genetically different
from their parent cells (Caruso Bavisotto and et. al., 2019). Another component of cell include
nucleus which is also caller director or brain of cell, because it controls overall activities of cell
and consists DNA or chromosomes, that controls heredity type of characters. While power house
of cell is mitochondria which stores energy in terms of ATP molecules and has double
membranous structure. Therefore, the overall functions states that cells are basic, structural as
well as functional unit of life, which are mainly responsible for to provide structure to the body
and performs a number of functions that are necessary to carry out life’s processes.
From all over the discussion, it has been concluded that cell structure of human body
compromises with individual components, which performs specific functions for carrying out the
whole process of life. Cells while considering the complexity of a human body, is evaluated as
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main component or building blocks of living bodies on earth. In context with human body, it is
composed by trillions of cells that provide structure and shape to the body, by taking nutrients
from food and convert them into energy, as well as carry out other specialized functions also.
Along with this, cells also contain the hereditary material of body and have capabilities to
replicate or make copies of themselves (Liu, Detwiler and Tovar, 2018). In short, Cells carries
out six main functions within a body that are providing structure and support; facilitating growth
by process of mitosis; allowing the passive as well as active transport; producing energy;
creating metabolic reactions; and helping in reproduction.
Application of cell function theory on clinical aesthetic work
As skin aging refers to be the most complex process of biology which is highly
influenced by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as hormonal issue, growing age,
sun burn and more. Therefore, knowledge of cell functional theory helps in prevention and
keeping skin of a person health for long term. Dermatologists can apply this theory to develop a
number of anti-ageing strategies. It includes development of preventive measures, systematic
therapeutic agents, cosmetological strategies etc. Apart from skin ageing, other main problems
related with skin can also be prevented and cure by applying the theory of cell structure and its
function in clinical aesthetic work.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Liu, K., Detwiler, D. and Tovar, A., 2018. Cluster-based optimization of cellular materials and
structures for crashworthiness. Journal of Mechanical Design. 140(11).
Li, D. and et. al., 2019. Design and optimization of graded cellular structures with triply periodic
level surface-based topological shapes. Journal of Mechanical Design. 141(7).
Klaips, C. L., Jayaraj, G. G. and Hartl, F. U., 2018. Pathways of cellular proteostasis in aging
and disease. Journal of Cell Biology. 217(1). pp.51-63.
Zhou, M. and et. al., 2018. A hypertension-associated mitochondrial DNA mutation introduces
an m1G37 modification into tRNAMet, altering its structure and function. Journal of
Biological Chemistry. 293(4). pp.1425-1438.
Sarrat-Torres, M. A. and et. al., 2020. Structure, location, function and pathological features of
the human carotid body. European Journal of Anatomy. 10(1). pp.1-5.
Bianconi, G., 2018. Multilayer networks: structure and function. Oxford university press.
Caruso Bavisotto, C.and et. al., 2019. Extracellular vesicle-mediated cell–cell communication in
the nervous system: focus on neurological diseases. International journal of molecular
sciences, 20(2), p.434.
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