DS701 MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DENTISTRY

MODULE 1: FOUNDATION OF MEDICAL SCIENCE

Cells and Tissues (1)

FACULTY OF DENTISTRY
TS. MOHD MAARUF BIN ABDUL MALIK
Specific Learning Outcomes

• Identify the basic components of a cell.

Cell

• Basic structural & functional unit of all living organisms.

• The smallest living parts of the body.

• One of the three elements that compose the body other

than:
➢ body fluid
➢ intracellular substances
A Generalized Cell
Nuclear
Chromatin membrane Nucleus
Nucleolus
Smooth Cell
endoplasmic membrane
reticulum
Cytoplasm

Mitochondrion

Centrioles Rough
endoplasmic
reticulum

Ribosome

Golgi
Cilia apparatus

Secretory
vesicle

Microtubules

Microfilaments
Lysosome
Cell - EM
Components of Cell

• Two major components:

- nucleus
- cytoplasm

• The outermost component

of the cell, separating the
cytoplasm from its
extracellular environment
→ plasma membrane
Nucleus
• Large, rounded / oval structure.

• Membrane-bound compartment
within the cell.
• Located near the centre of the
cell.
• Enclosed by double-layered
nuclear membrane & perforated
by many large nuclear pores.
• Nuclear membrane is more
permeable than cell membrane.
• Contains the genome in
eukaryotic cells & it control center
of the cell.
• Components of the nucleus:
➢ Nuclear envelope
➢ Chromatin (strands of DNA)
➢ Nucleolus
Nuclear envelope & Nuclear pores
• Nuclear envelope – double-layered membrane; acts as a
selectively permeable barrier between nucleus and
cytoplasm.
• Nuclear pores – control the movement of substances
between the nucleus & cytoplasm.
Chromatin

• In nondividing nuclei, chromatin contains DNA and its proteins in a largely

uncoiled state.
• Two types of chromatin: heterochromatin (basophilic clumps) and
euchromatin (lightly stained basophilic area).
• Cells with lightly stained nuclei → more active in protein synthesis.
• Light-stained nuclei – much euchromatin, less heterochromatin (more
DNA is available for the transcription of RNA).
Nucleolus
• Spherical, highly basophilic
subdomain of nuclei in cells,
actively making proteins.
• Non-membranous.
• Composed of RNA & protein.
Function:
- site of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
synthesis (cells that are actively
engaged in protein synthesis have
prominent, large nucleolus & usually
multiple in number).
• rRNA molecules associate with
ribosomal proteins (from cytoplasm)
→ small / large ribosomal subunits.
 Plasma membrane
• Flexible & selective
barrier that envelop all
eukaryotic cells.

• Made of phospholipids
cholesterol, proteins
and oligosaccharide
chains.

• Regulates the passage

of materials into and
out of the cell.

• Facilitates the transport

of specific molecules.
Plasma membrane

• Membrane range from 7.5 to 10 nm in thickness.

• A double layer of phospholipid & associated integral & peripheral proteins.
• Membrane phospholipids are amphiphatic, contain two non-polar (hydrophobic)
long chain fatty acids and charged polar (hydrophilic) head.
• Integral proteins – incorporated within the lipid bilayers.
• Peripheral protein – associated with one of two membrane surfaces.
Plasma membrane - TEM

• A trilaminar appearance after fixation in osmium tetroxide.

• Osmium – binding the polar heads of the phospholipids, outer sugar chains and
associated membranes proteins → produces two dark outer lines.
• Enclosing the light band of osmium-free fatty acids.
 Plasma membrane

• Functions:
- maintains the integrity of the cell
- selectively allow passage of materials (selectively permeable)
- contains receptor sites for certain hormones
- contains identification markers
- separate outside material from the inside material
Cytoplasm

• Gel-like fluid inside living cell.

• An organized structure in which the organelles & inclusion
are suspended.

• Organelles
- Highly organized living structures that perform specific
functions in cellular growth, maintenance & reproduction.

• Inclusions
- Non living components of cell products or metabolites.
- Often transitory in nature.
Organelles

Membranous Non-Membranous

• Rough endoplasmic • Cytoskeleton

reticulum • Microtubules
• Smooth endoplasmic • Centrioles
reticulum • Ribosomes
• Golgi apparatus
• Mitochondria
• Lysosomes
Ribosomes

• Small electron-dense,
non-membranous particles.

• Manufactured in the
nucleolus.

• Compose of protein & RNA.

• Found in the cytoplasm of

all cell except red blood
cells.
Ribosomes - TEM

• Function
- engage in protein synthesis.

• Structure
- occurs in two forms:
1) Free ribosomes
- synthesize proteins used
within the cell
2) Bound ribosomes
- synthesize proteins that are
secreted, incorporated into
plasma membrane, and within
lysosomes
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Structure
• A series of interconnecting
channels, tubules &
vesicles.
• Extend throughout the
cytoplasm.
• Continuous with the outer
membrane of the nuclear
envelope & inner layer of
the plasma membrane.
Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

• Occurs in two forms:

- Rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)
- Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

Structure:
• The external surface of the membrane is studded with ribosome
thus appear ‘rough’.

Functions:
• A factory for synthesizing secretory proteins & membrane
molecules.
• Synthesize & transport protein that is synthesize from one part of
the cell to another.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

Structure:
• The membrane of the SER is devoid of ribosome thus
appears ‘smooth’.
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

Functions:
• Synthesize, transport & store lipids (steroid).
• Detoxification of drugs/other potentially harmful substances.
• Metabolize carbohydrates (glycogen breakdown).
Golgi apparatus

Structure:
• Smooth and flattened membranous saccules.

Location:
• Near nucleus & centrioles.
• Active in cells – secrete proteins (exocytosis).
 Golgi apparatus

Functions:
- Completes posttranslational modifications of proteins synthesized
in RER.
- Forms secretory vesicles that discharge processed protein via
exocytosis into extracellular fluid; replaces or modifies existing plasma
membranes; forms lysosomes and peroxisomes.
- Packages and adresses the synthesized proteins to proper
destinations.
Golgi apparatus - EM
Golgi apparatus - LM
• Not stained with haematoxylin & eosin.

• Appears as clear area in H&E sections surrounded by

the basophilic cytoplasm of secretory cells.
Mitochondria

Structure:
• Mostly rod-shaped flexible fluid filled organelle.
• 0.5 – 1.0 µm (diameter).
• About the size of bacterium.
• Contains its own DNA.
• Each mitochondrion is bounded by two unit membrane
➢ Outer membrane → smooth, sieve-like
➢ Inner membrane → form shelf-like folds called cristae
Mitochondria

Structure:
• Cristae project into the matrix increasing the surface area of
the inner membrane.
• Inner surface of cristae is covered by lollipop-like subunits
where mitochondrial enzymes are located.
• Two membranes create two fluid-filled spaces
(compartments):
➢ The intermembranous space
➢ The intercristal space → contains the matrix
Mitochondria - EM

Shelf-like
cristae
Mitochondria

Functions:
• Production of ATPs
- supplies energy for most cellular activities.

Locations:
• Total number → related to the cell’s energy needs.
• Abundance in muscle cells, protein secreting cells, liver,
kidney tubule cells.
Lysosomes

• Spherical, membrane-limited vesicles.

• 0.05 – 0.5 µm (diameter).
• Contain about 40 hydrolytic enzymes (acid hydrolyases).
• Function as digestive organelles:
- intracellular digestion
- breaking down most macromolecules
Cytoskeleton
• Composing of supporting framework of filaments & tubules.

Functions:
• Determine the shape of cells.
• Provide structural support &
anchorage of organelles.
• Movement of:
- entire cell
- organelles within the cell
- chromosomes during mitosis
• Beating of cilia & flagella.
• Role in muscle contractions.
Cytoskeleton

• Three main types of cytoskeleton:

➢ Microtubules
➢ Microfilaments
➢ Intermediate filaments
Microtubules - TEM

• Hollow cylindrical structure.

• 25 nm (diameter).
• Composed of protein tubulin.
Microtubules
• Found in cilia (hair-like
projection of cell
membrane) & flagella.
• Form mitotic spindle.

• Form centrioles.
Microfilaments - TEM
• Shorter, thin, fine strands.
• 5 - 7 nm (diameter).
• Composed of protein actin.
• More flexible than microtubules
• Allow cellular motility & contractile
activity.
• Found in all types of cells but most
abundance in muscle cells.
• Form structural core of
microvilli.
* microvilli are finger-like
projections of cell membrane
Intermediate filaments

• Size between microtubules and microfilaments.

• More stable than microtubules and microfilaments.
• Composed of various protein subunits.
• Provide structural support and stabilize junctions
between cells.
• Examples: keratins, vimentin, neurofilament, lamins.
Centrioles
Location:
• in the centrosome near the
nucleus in most interphase
cells.

Structure:
• Rod-shape structure.
• Compose of microtubules.
• Occurs as pairs.
• The two usually lie at right
angle to each other.
Centrioles

Function:
• help organize mitotic spindle
during cell division.
Cytoplasmic Inclusions
• Little or no metabolic activity.
• Contain accumulated metabolites / substances.
• Not enclosed by membrane.
• Transitory cytoplasmic components.
• Four main types:

➢ Glycogen granules
➢ Lipid droplets
➢ Melanin pigments
➢ Lipofuscin
Glycogen granules

- Aggregates of the carbohydrate

polymer in which glucose is stored.
- Visible in several cell types.
- Mainly in liver cells.
Lipid droplets

- Accumulations of lipid
molecules prominent in
adipocytes (fat cells).
- Adrenal cortex cells, liver.
Melanin pigments

- Brown pigment in cytoplasm.

- Skin pigmentation.
Lipofuscin
- Yellowish-brown pigment visualized by H&E staining in
many cells.
- Granules contains complex mix of material (derived from
residual bodies after lysosomal digestion).
- Especially in stable
non-dividing cells
(neurons, cardiac muscle).

• Lipofuscin (age pigments)

in neurons
References

• Basic Histology, Text and Atlas, 11th

Edition, Luiz Carlos Junqueira, 2005.

• Wheater’s Functional Histology, A Text and

Colour Atlas, Fifth Edition, 2006.
THANK YOU