latest testing Rasmussen CollegeNURSING FUNDAMENTA

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Understanding cells The cell is the body’s basic building block, the smallest living component of an organism. Millions of cells form highly specialized units that function together as: ■ tissu... es, such as muscle, blood, and bone ■ organs, such as the brain, heart, and liver ■ integrated body systems, such as the central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular system, and digestive system. CELL COMPONENTS Each cell contains structures known as organelles, each with specific functions. (See A look at cell components, page 2.) Organelles are held in an aqueous substance called cytoplasm, which is bounded by the cell membrane. The nucleus is the largest organelle. It controls cell activity and stores deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which carries genetic material and is responsible for cellular reproduction, also known as division. Other organelles include: ■ ribosomes and the endoplasmic reticulum, which synthesize proteins and metabolize fat inside the cell ■ the Golgi apparatus, which contains enzymes that function in cellular metabolism ■ lysosomes, which contain digestive enzymes that permit cytoplasmic digestion ■ mitochondria, which make adenosine triphosphate, the energy that fuels cellular activity [Show More]

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