1.3 System physiology – structure and function of various systems in brief
Role Name Affiliation
Principal Investigator Dr. AsisGoswami Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Co- Dr. P.K. Nag Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
PrincipalInvestigator University
Paper Coordinator Dr. AsisGoswami Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Content Writer/Author Dr. AsisGoswami Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Content Reviewer Dr. AmitavaChatterjee Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Language Editor NONE
Items Description of Module
Subject Name Physical Education, Sports and Health
Education
Paper Name Exercise Physiology
Module Name/Title Case System Physiology
Study
Module Id PESHE/RKMVU/5/1.3
Pre-Requisites Module 1.1 -Introduction
Objectives Given in learning outcome
Keywords System Physiology, Cell, Tissue, organ
Learning Objectives
1. Reading this module the student will get brief idea about the structure- function
relationship of a cell.
2. He will also learn about the constituents of human body from cell to system
and their functions.
1. Introduction
The human body is an extremely complex structure made up of large number of
elements. Different aspects of the human body can be studied by understanding different
levels of organizational that make a functional mechanism. A number of elements
combine to produce compounds, known as biological compounds or biochemical or
organic compounds. Carbon remains the base of organic matter although it is present in
the body as the second highest quantity. Common elements found in living tissues, in
,sequence of the quantity present, are Oxygen (O), Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Nitrogen
(N), calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P). It is very difficult to estimate the quantity of each
element in the human body. Many studies on cadaver (body of dead human) have
indicated chemical composition of human being. Table below gives nearest value of
presence of these elements in the body (Wang et al, 1992) (Table 1).
Table 1: Elemental level of body composition
Name of the element Percentage in
the body
Oxygen 61.0-65.0
Carbon 18.0-23.0
Hydrogen 10.0
Nitrogen 2.6-3.0
Calcium 1.4
Phosphorus 1.0
Potassium, Sulfur, Sodium, <1.0 each total
Chlorine and Magnesium of these is about
1.2 %
Trace elements Copper, Chromium, Less than 1.0%
Iron, Cobalt, iodine, etc. in total
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen & nitrogen (and sometimes phosphorus & sulfur) combine in
various ways to form biomolecules like Carbohydrates (sugars and starch), Proteins,
Lipids (fats), and Nucleic acid (DNA & RNA). Note that about 60- 70% of human body is
water and 40-30% is solid material (see the figure below, Fig. 1).
Figure 1: Gross composition of human body
, 2. Structural unit of the body- The Cell
Robert Hooke in the year 1665 found that cork was formed of small cells. Later on
Schwann (1839)reported that all the living body consists of small compartments and
these were named as “Cell”. With the development of modern microscopes minute detail
of cells became available. Human body is a collection of individual cells.Cells are the
basic structural and functional units of the human body. All types of cells contain
common structures, called as intracellular structures (Organelle). However, there are
exceptions such as matured red blood cell does not have a nucleus. A diagram of a
common cell and brief description of its structural components are given below (Fig. 2).
Cell Membrane:Structure and shape of the cell is defined by the outer covering of the
cell known as Cell membrane.Cell membrane is the protective boundary of the cell. It
separates the cell from the environment. The membrane has selective permeability and
allows movement of molecules in and out of the cell by passive and active transport
mechanisms.
Cytoplasm: All the sub structures of a cell are floating in a fluid called as Cytoplasm.It is
the jelly like liquid substance present inside the cell membrane. Different organelles of
the cell are present in the cytoplasm. So many biochemical reactions including protein
synthesis and ATP formation occurs in cytoplasmic organelles.
Mitochondria: It is called as the ‘Power house of the Cell’. Many energy producing
chemical reactions and cellular respiration take place in this organelle. This is the site of
aerobic metabolism.
Nucleus: It is the largest organelle in a cell. It contains different components such as
the nuclear envelope, chromosomes, and the nucleolus. Nucleus holds the genetic
material DNA and makes mRNA. Nucleus contain a sub-organelle called nucleolus.
Nucleolus primarily serves as the site of ribosome synthesis and assembly.
Golgi Apparatus: Also known as the Golgi complex, Golgi body, or simply the Golgi, It
was identified in 1897 by the Italian physician Camillo Golgi and named after him in
1898.It is the organelle responsible for modification and sorting of proteins. It packages
proteins into membrane-bound vesicles inside the cell and these vesicles are sent to
their destination.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: They are network of membranes or sac like
structures named as cisternae. These cisternae are held together by cytoskeleton. The
rough surface is due to adherence of ribosomes. Rough endoplasmic reticulum stores
and transport material throughout the cell.
Role Name Affiliation
Principal Investigator Dr. AsisGoswami Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Co- Dr. P.K. Nag Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
PrincipalInvestigator University
Paper Coordinator Dr. AsisGoswami Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Content Writer/Author Dr. AsisGoswami Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Content Reviewer Dr. AmitavaChatterjee Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda
University
Language Editor NONE
Items Description of Module
Subject Name Physical Education, Sports and Health
Education
Paper Name Exercise Physiology
Module Name/Title Case System Physiology
Study
Module Id PESHE/RKMVU/5/1.3
Pre-Requisites Module 1.1 -Introduction
Objectives Given in learning outcome
Keywords System Physiology, Cell, Tissue, organ
Learning Objectives
1. Reading this module the student will get brief idea about the structure- function
relationship of a cell.
2. He will also learn about the constituents of human body from cell to system
and their functions.
1. Introduction
The human body is an extremely complex structure made up of large number of
elements. Different aspects of the human body can be studied by understanding different
levels of organizational that make a functional mechanism. A number of elements
combine to produce compounds, known as biological compounds or biochemical or
organic compounds. Carbon remains the base of organic matter although it is present in
the body as the second highest quantity. Common elements found in living tissues, in
,sequence of the quantity present, are Oxygen (O), Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Nitrogen
(N), calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P). It is very difficult to estimate the quantity of each
element in the human body. Many studies on cadaver (body of dead human) have
indicated chemical composition of human being. Table below gives nearest value of
presence of these elements in the body (Wang et al, 1992) (Table 1).
Table 1: Elemental level of body composition
Name of the element Percentage in
the body
Oxygen 61.0-65.0
Carbon 18.0-23.0
Hydrogen 10.0
Nitrogen 2.6-3.0
Calcium 1.4
Phosphorus 1.0
Potassium, Sulfur, Sodium, <1.0 each total
Chlorine and Magnesium of these is about
1.2 %
Trace elements Copper, Chromium, Less than 1.0%
Iron, Cobalt, iodine, etc. in total
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen & nitrogen (and sometimes phosphorus & sulfur) combine in
various ways to form biomolecules like Carbohydrates (sugars and starch), Proteins,
Lipids (fats), and Nucleic acid (DNA & RNA). Note that about 60- 70% of human body is
water and 40-30% is solid material (see the figure below, Fig. 1).
Figure 1: Gross composition of human body
, 2. Structural unit of the body- The Cell
Robert Hooke in the year 1665 found that cork was formed of small cells. Later on
Schwann (1839)reported that all the living body consists of small compartments and
these were named as “Cell”. With the development of modern microscopes minute detail
of cells became available. Human body is a collection of individual cells.Cells are the
basic structural and functional units of the human body. All types of cells contain
common structures, called as intracellular structures (Organelle). However, there are
exceptions such as matured red blood cell does not have a nucleus. A diagram of a
common cell and brief description of its structural components are given below (Fig. 2).
Cell Membrane:Structure and shape of the cell is defined by the outer covering of the
cell known as Cell membrane.Cell membrane is the protective boundary of the cell. It
separates the cell from the environment. The membrane has selective permeability and
allows movement of molecules in and out of the cell by passive and active transport
mechanisms.
Cytoplasm: All the sub structures of a cell are floating in a fluid called as Cytoplasm.It is
the jelly like liquid substance present inside the cell membrane. Different organelles of
the cell are present in the cytoplasm. So many biochemical reactions including protein
synthesis and ATP formation occurs in cytoplasmic organelles.
Mitochondria: It is called as the ‘Power house of the Cell’. Many energy producing
chemical reactions and cellular respiration take place in this organelle. This is the site of
aerobic metabolism.
Nucleus: It is the largest organelle in a cell. It contains different components such as
the nuclear envelope, chromosomes, and the nucleolus. Nucleus holds the genetic
material DNA and makes mRNA. Nucleus contain a sub-organelle called nucleolus.
Nucleolus primarily serves as the site of ribosome synthesis and assembly.
Golgi Apparatus: Also known as the Golgi complex, Golgi body, or simply the Golgi, It
was identified in 1897 by the Italian physician Camillo Golgi and named after him in
1898.It is the organelle responsible for modification and sorting of proteins. It packages
proteins into membrane-bound vesicles inside the cell and these vesicles are sent to
their destination.
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum: They are network of membranes or sac like
structures named as cisternae. These cisternae are held together by cytoskeleton. The
rough surface is due to adherence of ribosomes. Rough endoplasmic reticulum stores
and transport material throughout the cell.
