Intro to Cells and Compartments

The study of the normal functioning of a living organism and its component parts, including all its chemical and phyiscal processes.

Temperature, oxygen and water

Plasma, interstitial fluid and intracellular fluid

• Tissues that line cavities or separate two compartments (i.e., mucous membranes, pleural membrane) • Phospholipid-protein boundary layers

Channels, which allow things to through cell membranes

Biochemical and biophysiological processes that occur within cells

Regulation of physiological processes within body by homeostatic reflexes

When homeostatic reflexes fail

Effects of drugs to restore homeostasis

Specialized intercellular channel that permits direct cell to cell transfer of ions and small particles.

Two neighboring cells join to form a barrier to larger molecules and water that pass between the cells Keeps certain things in and other things out.

Intercellular junctions that provide strong adhesion between cells.

Gap junctions are how all the cells in our heart are joined and they make their intercellular space consistent. This is important because when your heart contracts, you don’t want individual cells contracting. You want every cell to contract at the same time. A gap junction will allow that muscle to work as a whole.

Temperature, size of molecules, steepness of concentration, distance to travel

Isotonic: normal Hypertonic: dehydrated blood cells Hypotonic: swelled blood cells that may burst