What determines the shape of cells? Forms of cells

Today we will analyze the question: "What determines the shape of cells?". To begin with, we note that our body consists entirely of separate cells. All of our internal and external organs are a designer, the constituent parts of which are small cells, which we can consider only under a microscope.

What determines the shape of cells? Here we can identify a number of factors, which we will list a little later. To begin, we need to get acquainted with the structure (structure) of the cell. It is important to know that all of them can be divided into groups:

• Vegetable;
• Animals;
• Cells of bacteria.

We will look at each species separately.

Cell

All life around us consists of cells, which are a cavity surrounded by a membrane. This hollow space is filled with an aqueous and concentrated solution, the basis of which is water.

So we can state: a cell is an elementary unit, they can not only form something more, but also exist independently. They have a number of possibilities, such as:

• metabolism;
• Existence alone;
• Self-reproduction;
• development.

It is important to know that they can have different shapes and sizes. On what the form of cells depends, we will certainly analyze after acquaintance with their structure. The cell, like all living things on our planet, evolves, we will not talk about the process of transformation, but consider the current result.

Structure

Despite the fact that cell shapes, sizes and destinations can be varied, they have a fairly similar structure. Let us single out the general structural units:

• Cell membrane;
• cytoplasm;
• core.

That is, we can distinguish three structural units that can be found in most cases. However, there are exceptions. We take muscles, its cells consist of a membrane, a cytoplasm and several nuclei. Now we have considered an example where there are many nuclei in one cell, but there is a complete absence of nuclei. An example of the second variant may be an erythrocyte. The latter do not have so many functions and capabilities, as there is no possibility of self-renewal and reproducing (because there is a lack of a kernel).

It is also important to know what protoplasm is. This is a community of nucleus and cytoplasm. Now we will briefly consider what functions each component of the cell performs. The membrane performs primarily a barrier function, separates the protoplasm from the penetration of unnecessary substances.

The cytoplasm resembles a jelly-like mass and consists of three components:

• Gialoplasmas;
• Organelles;
• Inclusions.

It is the cytoplasm responsible for vital cell processes: metabolism, energy and information exchange.

Among all the functions of the nucleus can be identified the following: the regulation of metabolism, the synthesis of RNA, storage and transfer of hereditary information.

Forms

What determines the shape of cells? From their destination - this is the first. In this section, we highlight the possible options. But before that, it is important to note their dimensions, which are also very different. For example, some bacteria have a size of about 0.2 μm. If someone does not know, then 1 micron is equal to one thousandth of 1 mm. Such a cell can not be seen with the naked eye, but there are larger examples (the egg of a chicken, quail, ostrich, and so on). In fact - this is a single cell, and its dimensions reach 18 centimeters in length.

Let's select some forms:

• ball;
• polyhedron;
• star;
• Cylinder and so on.

You see, there is a variety of shapes and sizes of cells. The simplest form is the lymphocyte - ball, in the form of a polyhedron are hepatocytes (liver cells), the star - osteoblast (bone tissue) and so on.

Plant cells

The forms of cells of plant origin are always the same, but the animals can change. Vegetables have a strong shell, which prevents them from transforming.

Dimensions fluctuate usually between 10 and 100 μm (cell sizes of higher plants). But there are also larger cells, they serve for the supply of nutrients and water. These are potato tubers or juicy fruits. We can see with the naked eye cells of the pulp of lemon, watermelon or orange, since their size is several millimeters. Some fibers (flax, nettle) reach a length of up to 80 millimeters.

Animal cells

Now we will briefly consider the shapes and sizes of cells of animal origin. It is also important to know that they have a slightly different structure than vegetable ones. Compare the photos in the past and this section. In most cases, the animal cells are very small (about 50 microns). Therefore, they have to be studied under a microscope. Forms and sizes are very different. For example:

• The muscle cell is an elongated form;
• The blood cell is an oval shape;
• The skin cell is a flat or goblet shape.

Bacterial cells

We have already considered the forms of cells of animals and plants, but what do bacteria cells look like? All bacteria can be divided into groups (according to the form):

• Spherical;
• Rod-shaped;
• Convoluted.

You can see some examples in the photo presented in the section. Bacteria are very small, these cells can be seen only under a strong increase in the microscope.