Unit 13: Physiology of Fluid Balance in Health & Social Care, Task 2.                                          Carla Cooper                                                                    3rd March 2008

Tutor: Barry Morton                                                      

  1. Explain how the functions of four cell components relate to overall cell function. (M1)

Introduction to the Question.

        To answer this question fully I am going to find my research on the internet, class handouts & from the Health and Social care book. The four cell components I have decided to write about are:

  • Mitochondria
  • Nucleus
  • Endoplasmic reticulum
  •  Ribosome’s

Mitochondria are among the most conspicuous organelles in the cytoplasm, and are present in nearly all eukaryotic cells. They have a distinctive structure when seen in the electron microscope: each mitochondrion is usually sausage-shaped, several micrometres long and enclosed in two separate membranes, the inner one being highly folded. Mitochondria are the energy-producing organelles. Cells need energy to grow and replicate and mitochondria supply most of this energy by performing the last stages of the breakdown of food molecules in the process known as the Krebs cycle. These stages involve the consumption of oxygen and the production of carbon dioxide—a process called respiration because of its similarity to breathing. Without mitochondria, animals and fungi would be unable to use oxygen to extract the full amount of energy from the food they consume to fuel their growth and replication. Various organisms that live in environments that lack oxygen are said to be anaerobic.

Here is a diagram of mitochondria:

Source:http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2F.uk.

Cells need energy for other processes such as the synthesis of proteins from amino-acids and the replication of DNA. This energy usually comes from the breakdown of glucose; though fats and proteins can also be used a sources of energy. Glucose is a stable chemical: it does not just breakdown releasing energy. Since glucose can pass through cell membranes it is used to transport energy from one part of your body to another in your blood.

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Glucose cannot be stored by cells. They must convert the glucose into glycogen. Both liver cells and muscle cells can store glycogen. Storing glucose is not possible for two reasons. Firstly it would just get out of the cell. Secondly it would have an enormous osmotic effect. Glycogen is not soluble so it cannot leak out of cells. Instead of storing tens of thousands of glucose molecules, the cell can store a few glycogen molecules which have very little osmotic effect.

ATP is very much less stable than either glucose or glycogen, so it cannot be used to store energy ...

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