Junior Pharmacist Exam

Subject: HAP
Topic: Cell

1. Introduction to Cell
✓ The cell is the smallest unit of life that is capable of performing all life processes.
✓ It is the fundamental structural and functional unit of all living organisms.
✓ All living things are made up of cells.
✓ Cells can exist as independent units of life (as in unicellular organisms) or as part
of multicellular organisms, where they specialize and perform specific functions.
✓ Cells were first observed by Robert Hooke in 1665 in a thin slice of cork.
✓ The development of microscopy helped in understanding the complex structure
and functions of the cell.

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 Junior Pharmacist Exam
Subject: HAP
Topic: Cell

2. Plasma Membrane
✓ The plasma membrane,
also known as the cell membrane,
is the outermost boundary of the
cell that separates the internal cell
contents from the external
environment.
✓ Plasma membrane is a
living, thing, delicate, elastic,
selectively permeable
membrane, made up of proteins
and lipids and is present in both
plants and animals cells.
✓ It is a living, flexible, and selectively permeable membrane composed mainly of
lipids and proteins.
✓ It controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.
✓ Functions:
- Maintains the shape and integrity of the cell.
- Acts as a barrier to protect internal cell contents.
- Regulates exchange of substances like ions, nutrients, and waste products.
- Maintains homeostasis by selective permeability.

3. Cell Wall
✓ The cell wall is a rigid, non-living structure found
outside the plasma membrane in plant cells, fungi, and
certain bacteria.
✓ It is primarily composed of cellulose in plants. Unlike
the plasma membrane, the cell wall is freely permeable
to water and other substances.

Functions:
- Provides structural support and rigidity.
- Protects against mechanical injury and pathogens.
- Prevents excessive intake of water and bursting of the
cell.
- Maintains the shape of plant cells.

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 Junior Pharmacist Exam
Subject: HAP
Topic: Cell

4. Cytoplasm
✓ The cytoplasm is a semi-fluid,
jelly-like substance that fills the cell and
surrounds all internal structures
(organelles).
✓ It consists of cytosol (fluid
portion), organelles, and inclusions
(stored nutrients).

Functions:
- Site of various biochemical reactions
including glycolysis.
- Stores essential substances like glucose,
amino acids, ions, etc.
- Provides a medium for movement of organelles.
- Facilitates distribution of materials within the cell.

5. Golgi Body (Golgi Apparatus)

✓ The Golgi apparatus is a stack of
flattened, membrane-bound sacs called
cisternae.
✓ In plant cells, it is referred to as
dictyosomes.
✓ It functions as the packaging and
distribution center of the cell.

Functions:
- Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids received from the ER.
- Involved in the formation of lysosomes and peroxisomes.
- Participates in the secretion of enzymes and hormones.
- Helps in the synthesis of complex carbohydrates.

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 Junior Pharmacist Exam
Subject: HAP
Topic: Cell

6. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

✓ The ER is an extensive network of membranes that extends throughout the
cytoplasm.
✓ It is of two types:
o Rough ER (RER): Studded with
ribosomes and involved in protein
synthesis and transport.
o Smooth ER (SER): Lacks ribosomes and
is involved in lipid, steroid, and
carbohydrate metabolism.
Functions:
- Provides mechanical support to the cell.
- Facilitates transport of materials
throughout the cell.
- Helps in detoxification of drugs
(especially in liver cells).
- Involved in synthesis of cellular
membranes.

• 7. Lysosomes (Suicidal bags)

✓ Lysosomes are membrane-bound
organelles containing hydrolytic enzymes that
digest macromolecules, old cell parts, and
microorganisms.
✓ They are formed by the Golgi apparatus
and function as the waste disposal system of the
cell.
Functions:
- Perform intracellular digestion.
- Destroy pathogens like bacteria and viruses.
- Remove worn-out or damaged organelles
(autophagy).
- Participate in programmed cell death (apoptosis).

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 Junior Pharmacist Exam
Subject: HAP
Topic: Cell

8. Mitochondria
✓ Mitochondria are double-membrane-
bound organelles known as the 'powerhouses
of the cell' because they generate ATP
(energy) via cellular respiration.
✓ They have their own DNA and
ribosomes, making them semi-autonomous.
Functions:
- Site of aerobic respiration.
- Generates ATP through oxidative
phosphorylation.
- Helps in the synthesis of amino acids, fatty
acids, and steroids.
- Involved in apoptosis and calcium storage.

9. Ribosomes
✓ Ribosomes are small, dense, granular structures composed of RNA and proteins.
They are found either free in the
cytoplasm or attached to the ER (RER).
Functions:
- Act as sites for protein synthesis.
- Translate genetic information
(mRNA) into polypeptides.
- Play a key role in gene expression and
protein folding.

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 Junior Pharmacist Exam
Subject: HAP
Topic: Cell

10. Nucleus
✓ Robert brown in 1831 discovered the nucleus
is the largest cell structure.
✓ Nucleus has the following important parts:
✓ Nuclear membrane
✓ Nucleoplasm
✓ Nucleolus

✓ The nucleus is a large, membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell’s genetic
material (DNA). It is the control center of the cell.
✓ It is surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope, which
contains nuclear pores for material exchange.
Components:
- Nuclear membrane: Controls movement of substances between nucleus and cytoplasm.
- Nucleoplasm: Fluid medium inside the nucleus.
- Nucleolus: Site for rRNA synthesis and ribosome assembly.
- Chromatin: DNA + proteins that condense to form chromosomes during cell division.
Functions:
- Regulates all cellular activities including growth and metabolism.
- Stores genetic information.
- Directs protein synthesis by sending genetic instructions to the ribosomes.

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 Junior Pharmacist Exam
Subject: HAP
Topic: Cell

Cell Chapter – Revision Chart for Junior

Pharmacist Exam
Topic Key Points / MCQ-Focused Facts
Cell Structural and functional unit of
life; Discovered by Robert Hooke
Plasma Membrane Selectively permeable, made of
lipids & proteins, controls
entry/exit
Cell Wall Rigid, made of cellulose, present
only in plant cells
Cytoplasm Site of glycolysis, stores nutrients,
fluid medium
Golgi Apparatus Packages & modifies proteins,
forms lysosomes, secretion
Endoplasmic Reticulum RER – protein synthesis; SER –
lipid/steroid synthesis
Lysosomes Contain digestive enzymes;
suicidal bags of the cell
Mitochondria Powerhouse; produces ATP; has its
own DNA (semi-autonomous)
Ribosomes Protein synthesis sites; found free
or on RER
Nucleus Control center; contains DNA;
discovered by Robert Brown
Hot MCQs 1. Mitochondria function
2. Lysosome role
3. RER vs SER
4. Ribosome location
5. Plasma membrane

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