Cells
Some people may look at the human body as just flesh and bones. In reality, the human body is a representation of its cellular structure. When you eat, you are not feeding the body as in just its flesh and bones, but in fact you are feeding and nourishing your cells.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “Cells are the basic building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out specialized functions. Cells also contain the body’s hereditary material and can make copies of themselves. Cells have many parts, each with a different function. Some of these parts, called organelles, are specialized structures that perform certain tasks within the cell.”
When those functions or tasks are not completed then there is a breakdown somewhere in the system, which leads to sickness, disease and even death depending on the severity. One example of this taking place is a process of a programmed cell death called Apoptosis. The process of Apoptosis is like a leaf falling off a tree when it is dead, sometimes referred to as “cellular suicide” by the way the cell disposes of itself. Once the cells have lived their dedicated programmed life cycle then they die off to make way for new cells to live and thrive that were formed from the process of Mitosis. This is a natural life and death cycle of cells. When cells die of “natural causes” then that is referred to as Apoptosis. When cells die due to injury, from lack of nutrients, lack of oxygen, lack of blood supply or blood flow (Ischemic Cell Death Oncosis), or due to toxin then it is referred to as Necrosis, or “accidental cell death”. Nonetheless, it will go through a similar process to Apoptosis called Necroptosis to rid itself. When cells are infected and die from viruses and bacteria is goes through a process called Pyroptosis to rid itself. In all the “natural cause” deaths the immune system is notified and when functioning properly, will dispose of the old worn out cell cleanly and efficiently. The “accidental deaths” are a dirtier job due to the toxins of the damaged cell spilling out, except for cases of Oncosis, but the immune system cleans the mess and disposes the cell. Either way when cells are damaged, they must rid themselves. When that process fails to take place, the old damaged cells do not die as they are supposed, but instead multiply without stopping to form new unneeded and unwanted damaged cells that then form tumors and malfunction the surrounding cells. This is called Cancer. Most cancerous cells cause tumors, but sometimes there are no tumors formed, like when cancerous cells are in the blood, which is called Leukemia.
According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America,
“Cancer may occur anywhere in the body. In women, breast cancer is one of the most common. In men, it is prostate cancer. Lung cancer and colorectal cancer affect both men and women in high numbers.
There are five main categories of cancer:
- Carcinomas begin in the skin or tissues that line the internal organs.
- Sarcomas develop in the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or other connective tissues.
- Leukemia begins in the blood and bone marrow.
- Lymphomas start in the immune system.
- Central nervous system cancers develop in the brain and spinal cord.
Treatment options depend on the type of cancer, its stage, if the cancer has spread and your general health. The goal of treatment is to kill as many cancerous cells while reducing damage to normal cells nearby. Advances in technology make this possible.
The three main treatments are:
- Surgery: directly removing the tumor
- Chemotherapy: using chemicals to kill cancer cells
- Radiation therapy: using X-rays to kill cancer cells
The same cancer type in one individual is very different from that cancer in another individual.”
Cellular Structure
Cytoplasm
Within cells, the cytoplasm is made up of a jelly-like fluid (called the cytosol) and other structures that surround the nucleus.
Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a network of long fibers that make up the cell’s structural framework. The cytoskeleton has several critical functions, including determining cell shape, participating in cell division, and allowing cells to move. It also provides a track-like system that directs the movement of organelles and other substances within cells.
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
This organelle helps process molecules created by the cell. The endoplasmic reticulum also transports these molecules to their specific destinations either inside or outside the cell.
Golgi apparatus
The Golgi apparatus packages molecules processed by the endoplasmic reticulum to be transported out of the cell.
Lysosomes and peroxisomes
These organelles are the recycling center of the cell. They digest foreign bacteria that invade the cell, rid the cell of toxic substances, and recycle worn-out cell components.
Mitochondria
Mitochondria are complex organelles that convert energy from food into a form that the cell can use. They have their own genetic material, separate from the DNA in the nucleus, and can make copies of themselves.
Nucleus
The nucleus serves as the cell’s command center, sending directions to the cell to grow, mature, divide, or die. It also houses DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), the cell’s hereditary material. The nucleus is surrounded by a membrane called the nuclear envelope, which protects the DNA and separates the nucleus from the rest of the cell.
Plasma membrane
The plasma membrane is the outer lining of the cell. It separates the cell from its environment and allows materials to enter and leave the cell.
Ribosomes
Ribosomes are organelles that process the cell’s genetic instructions to create proteins. These organelles can float freely in the cytoplasm or be connected to the endoplasmic reticulum (see above).