The Cell

The cells are physiological and structural units of the body.

Low down in the scale of life we find animals so simple that they are described as
consisting of just one cell. These unicellular animals are alive because they are capable of
carrying on the biological functions which are essential to life. These biological functions
are support, breathing, digesting, collecting and distributing, moving, excreting, irritability
to environment, and reproducing. The amoeba, a typical one-cell animal, can be observed
under the microscope carrying on these functions.
As we ascend in the scale of life, we find animals that consist of a greater number of
cells. The human being may be described as a multicellular animal consisting of an
enormous aggregate of cells and intercellular material.
Structure of the cell. A cell is a minute portion of living substance enclosed in a cell
membrane which is thin and delicate. The cell contains a nucleus, an oval or spherical
body surrounded by its membrane. This in turn often contains one or more smaller
bodies or nucleoli.
Protoplasm is a general term for living substance. The protoplasm of the cell body
exefuSive of the nucleus is called cytoplasm. It Lviarzies in extent and in appearance in
different cells, being sometimes homogenous, sometimes alveolar, and sometimes granular
in structure. The nucleus consists of a fine network o cc material called /initi and on this are
strung granules of a material called chromatin. BeSidt these granules of chromatin other
masses are sometimes found which stain in a different manner and are called nucleoli. Thc
nucleus is essential for : (1) the clKimical changes on which the nutrition and functioning
of the cells depend ; (2) it instigates the process by which the cells multiply ; (3) it is
thought that the chromatin of the nucleus constitutes the material that transmits charac teristics from parents to children. In a cell which is about to divide the chromatin breaks
up into segments called chromosomes.

Cell division. Like all living organisms each cell grows and produces other cells. Cells
usually divide by irprect ciejlcclOsion or mitosis. In mitosis the nucleus passes through a
series .of changes. Ome cells are thought to divide directly. In direct division the cells
elOnTaleTtherilicleus and cytoplasm become constricted in the centre and the cell divides
and forms two cells which soon grow to the size of the original cell.
Cells begin to differ in structure, shape and character according to their special

functions : nerve cell, muscle cell, fat cell, etc.