JNTU Pharm. D I Year HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY Previous Question Paper (January - 2022 - R08)

The cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of the human body. It consists of three main components: the plasma membrane, the cytoplasm, and the nucleus.

Plasma Membrane: A selectively permeable lipid bilayer containing integral and peripheral proteins that regulates the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

Cytoplasm: The cellular material between the plasma membrane and the nucleus, consisting of the cytosol (fluid) and organelles.

Organelles: Specialized structures including mitochondria (site of ATP production), ribosomes (protein synthesis), endoplasmic reticulum (rough for protein synthesis, smooth for lipid synthesis), Golgi complex (packaging and modification), lysosomes (digestion), and the cytoskeleton (structural support).

Nucleus: A spherical organelle containing the nucleolus and genetic material (DNA/chromatin) enclosed by a nuclear envelope, serving as the control center for cellular activities.

Diagram Description: A central circular nucleus surrounded by a granular cytoplasm, containing oval mitochondria, a network of endoplasmic reticulum near the nucleus, a stack-like Golgi apparatus, and scattered ribosomes, all enclosed within a distinct boundary representing the plasma membrane.

Anatomy is the science of body structures and the relationships among them, while Physiology is the science of body functions, specifically how the body parts work.

The characteristics of the living human organism include:

1. Metabolism: The sum of all chemical processes occurring in the body, including catabolism (breaking down complex substances) and anabolism (building complex substances).
2. Responsiveness: The ability of the body to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.
3. Movement: Includes motion of the whole body, individual organs, single cells, or structures inside cells.
4. Growth: An increase in body size resulting from an increase in the size of existing cells, the number of cells, or both.
5. Differentiation: The process whereby unspecialized cells become specialized cells with distinct structural and functional characteristics.
6. Reproduction: Refers to either the formation of new cells for tissue growth, repair, or replacement, or the production of a new individual.