Anatomy and Physiology
Cells and Tissues
The cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function of all living organisms. The cell is the
fundamental unit of structure and function of all living organisms. Cells evolve and become
differentiated to perform different functions in the body.
Differentiated Physiological
Tissues
cells unit
Organ Organ system Organism
Cells make up tissues. The four main types of tissues are:
▪ Epithelial
▪ Muscle
▪ Connective
▪ Neural
,Tissue type Properties Image
Epithelial tissues ▪ Lines the internal and
external surfaces of
body organs
▪ Has different
characteristics on the
surface and the base.
▪ Undergoes a lot of
wear and tear so cells
are renewed and
replaced often
through mitosis
▪ Forms a barrier
allowing secretion
and absorption of
substances via
osmosis.
▪ Made up of
squamous, cuboidal
or columnar cells
(simple or stratified)
Muscle tissue ▪ Contains muscle cells
with contractile
elements to generate
mechanical force.
▪ Skeletal muscle
controls movement
of the skeleton and is
often voluntary.
▪ Cardiac and smooth
muscle are
involuntary and have
differences in
structure.
▪ Smooth muscle
surrounds many
tubes to maintain
function of body
systems.
▪ Smooth muscle
influences blood
pressure through
vasodilation and
vasoconstriction.
Connective tissue ▪ This connects,
anchors and supports
body structure.
▪ Connective tissue
cells often produce
an extracellular
, matrix composed of
proteins in a ground
substance of sugars,
proteins and
minerals.
▪ Collagen is an
example of an
extracellular matrix.
▪ Adipose tissue stores
fat for future
requirements and
insulates the body to
maintain homeostasis
in terms of body
temperature.
▪ Fibrous tissue is
dense connective
tissue, it is tough and
forms ligaments,
tendons and
protective
membranes.
Neural tissue ▪ These are cells that
are specialised to
initiate and conduct
electrical signals.
▪ They contain glial
cells for support and
nourishment.
▪ Cells are highly
specialised and do
not undergo further
mitotic divisions.
The Cell Cycle
Actively dividing eukaryote cells pass through a series of stages known collectively as the cell cycle.
G1 phase - Metabolic changes prepare the cell for division. At a certain point - the restriction point -
the cell is committed to division and moves into the S phase.
S phase - DNA synthesis replicates the genetic material. Each chromosome now consists of two sister
chromatids.
G2 phase - Metabolic changes assemble the cytoplasmic materials necessary for mitosis and
cytokinesis.
M phase - A nuclear division (mitosis) followed by a cell division (cytokinesis).
Cells and Tissues
The cell is the fundamental unit of structure and function of all living organisms. The cell is the
fundamental unit of structure and function of all living organisms. Cells evolve and become
differentiated to perform different functions in the body.
Differentiated Physiological
Tissues
cells unit
Organ Organ system Organism
Cells make up tissues. The four main types of tissues are:
▪ Epithelial
▪ Muscle
▪ Connective
▪ Neural
,Tissue type Properties Image
Epithelial tissues ▪ Lines the internal and
external surfaces of
body organs
▪ Has different
characteristics on the
surface and the base.
▪ Undergoes a lot of
wear and tear so cells
are renewed and
replaced often
through mitosis
▪ Forms a barrier
allowing secretion
and absorption of
substances via
osmosis.
▪ Made up of
squamous, cuboidal
or columnar cells
(simple or stratified)
Muscle tissue ▪ Contains muscle cells
with contractile
elements to generate
mechanical force.
▪ Skeletal muscle
controls movement
of the skeleton and is
often voluntary.
▪ Cardiac and smooth
muscle are
involuntary and have
differences in
structure.
▪ Smooth muscle
surrounds many
tubes to maintain
function of body
systems.
▪ Smooth muscle
influences blood
pressure through
vasodilation and
vasoconstriction.
Connective tissue ▪ This connects,
anchors and supports
body structure.
▪ Connective tissue
cells often produce
an extracellular
, matrix composed of
proteins in a ground
substance of sugars,
proteins and
minerals.
▪ Collagen is an
example of an
extracellular matrix.
▪ Adipose tissue stores
fat for future
requirements and
insulates the body to
maintain homeostasis
in terms of body
temperature.
▪ Fibrous tissue is
dense connective
tissue, it is tough and
forms ligaments,
tendons and
protective
membranes.
Neural tissue ▪ These are cells that
are specialised to
initiate and conduct
electrical signals.
▪ They contain glial
cells for support and
nourishment.
▪ Cells are highly
specialised and do
not undergo further
mitotic divisions.
The Cell Cycle
Actively dividing eukaryote cells pass through a series of stages known collectively as the cell cycle.
G1 phase - Metabolic changes prepare the cell for division. At a certain point - the restriction point -
the cell is committed to division and moves into the S phase.
S phase - DNA synthesis replicates the genetic material. Each chromosome now consists of two sister
chromatids.
G2 phase - Metabolic changes assemble the cytoplasmic materials necessary for mitosis and
cytokinesis.
M phase - A nuclear division (mitosis) followed by a cell division (cytokinesis).
