HLTB22H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Cytoskeleton, Metabolism, Knowledge Worker
HLTB22- Biological Determinants of Health
Lecture 2
Cell theory and application to public health
• Cell structure and function in relation to health → Homeostasis and health
• Cell structure, function, organization. Organelles, cellular respiration, homeostasis
Cell theory
• Fundamental organizing principle of bio that states:
o Cell is smallest unit of life
o Cells make up living things, including unicellular and multicellular organisms
o New cells can only arise from pre-existing cells
• Prokaryotic cells (e.g.; bacteria) lack internal membrane-bound organelles
• Eukaryotic cells (humans) have membrane-bound organelles. Humans are a composition
of cells
Structure and Function
• A cell can differentiate into specialized cells. These cells have structures that reflect their
particular functions. (eg: sperm cell is diff. from egg in function→ how?)
Basic and Specialized Cell Functions
• Basic functions are necessary for survival of cell
o Obtain nutrients and O2 from environment
o Convert nutrients and O2 into energy
o Eliminate waste products from these conversions
o Synthesize proteins for cell growth
o Controlling exchange of materials in and out of cell
o Moving materials around in cell
o Monitoring environment around cell
o Reproducing except in case of nerve call muscles cell less from disease or trauma
• Specialized functions
o Involve modification of basic cell function
o Contribute to survival of system and body
Cell Organization
• 2 or more types of tissues make up an organ
• Twelve major body systems and a variety of inter-coordinated systems that link together
to form the whole body
• Muscle tissue
o Skeletal; Cardiac; Smooth
• Nervous tissue
o Neurons (cell body, axon, dendrites)
• Epithelial tissue
o Epithelial sheets; secretory glands (exocrine/endocrine glands)
