Cell Structure and Function

Histology is primarily the study of the arrangement of differentiated cells into tissues.  Cell biology comprises essential background knowledge for studying histology.  Our Year One curriculum presumes familiarity with cell biology, with basic cell structure and function, from undergraduate course work.  This page may serve as a check-list to guide your review of cell biology.  

All living things are composed of cells and cell products.  This insight is one of the greatest unifying principles of biology.  Each of our body's cells contains all of the parts and processes necessary for life and is potentially an independent organism.  (Some, like macrophages, are more independent than others!)  All of our bodily functions, even our thoughts, derive from the activities and interactions of these individual cells.

All diseases result from disorders in cellular function.  This premise was put forward by Rudolf Virchow, the father of modern pathology, in the middle of the nineteenth century, soon after the establishment of the Cell Doctrine. 

"Life itself is but the expression of a sum of phenomena, each of which follows the ordinary physical and chemical laws. ... Disease is not something personal and special, but only a manifestation of life under modified conditions, operating according to the same laws as apply to the living body at all times, from the first moment until death." (Virchow)

A cellular perspective is particularly relevant for many of the major health problems of the present time, including cancer, immunological disorders, vascular diseases, and mental illness.

For excellent introductory exercises, see Ed (The Path Guy)'s Basic Histology Gallery.

For an extensive collection of images of cellular components, see the Electron Microscopic Atlas of Mammalian Tissues from the Universität Mainz (some images available only with German-language labels).  Also see Rhodin's An Atlas of Histology Online, an exceptional collection of electron micrographs of tissues in most organs.

The Inner Life of the Cell, by Alain Viel and Robert A. Lue at Harvard University, offers an elegant animated video of cell activity viewed from a molecular perspective.
Choose "FULL VERSION" for narration.

The Animated Cell, by artist/biologist John Kyrk, offers easy-to-interpret cartoons that review basic cell biology.

Check lists of learning objectives:
Cell Structures	Cell Functions	Cell Differentiation

Cell Structure Objective:  All of the following terms should be part of your working vocabulary (i.e., you should not need a dictionary to define the terms or or an atlas to identify the associated structures).  You should understand how each of these structures contributes to cell function and to the appearance of differentiated cell types.

Cell Function Objective:  All of the following terms should be part of your working vocabulary (i.e., you should not need a dictionary for definitions).  You should understand what cell structures are involved in each of these functions and how each contributes to the overall economy of the cell.  You should also understand the basic biochemistry associated with these functions.

The Biochemistry website includes several Powerpoint presentations, with links indicated below.

Cell Differentiation Objective:  Given any specific cell type, you should appreciate how particular differentiated features of structure and function allow the cell to serve its specialized role in the body.  From the beginning, become familiar with the following cell types, any of which may be routinely encountered in a variety of sites within the body.  

Comments and questions: dgking@siu.edu

SIUC / School of Medicine / Anatomy / David King

http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/intro/cells.htm
Last updated: 4 January 2010 / dgk