Introduction to Histology and Cytology: Cell Structure

Cell Components and Their Functions

• The glycocalyx, a carbohydrate-rich layer on the cell surface, plays a crucial role in cell-cell recognition, communication, and adhesion.
• The cell membrane, also known as the plasma membrane, selectively controls the entry of materials into the cell through active transport, passive transport, and other mechanisms.
• Cilia, short hair-like structures on the cell surface, aid in movement, sensation, and cell signaling by generating currents, detecting chemical and mechanical stimuli, and facilitating cell-cell communication.
• Microvilli, small, finger-like projections on the cell surface, increase the surface area for absorption and secretion, and their core component is actin filaments, which provide structural support and facilitate cellular processes.

Learn about the microscopic study of normal tissues, cell composition, and the function of cell components like the nucleus, cytoplasm, and organelles. Understand how organs are composed of tissues which in turn are made up of cells.