Lesson 2.

Structures and Functions

of Animal Cells

General Biology 11/2

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
The shape of an airplane is similar to the
general form of a bird.
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The shape of a boat resembles that of a fish.

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This shows that structures present in living
organisms are usually used as a basis for
designing objects. The structure is always
related to its function.

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Are the structure and functions
of the components that make
up an organism’s body related
to each other?

5
Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

Classify different cell types (plant/animal

tissues) and specify the function(s) of each
(STEM_BIO11/12-Ia-c-4).

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

● Describe the hierarchy of the biological

organization.

● Differentiate animal cell types based on their

structures and functions.

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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization

● In complex multicellular
organisms like animals,
cells come in different
structures and
functions—they differ in
terms of shapes and
sizes, and they also have
specialized functions.
All organisms are made up of at
least one cell.
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Why is the cell considered as
the basic unit of life?

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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization

The hierarchy of biological organization includes the assemblage of life from the
smallest biomolecules to the interacting ecosystems of the biosphere.
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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
Four types of biomolecules
or molecules associated
atoms and molecules with life:
Chemical that make up the ● carbohydrates
basic unit of life ● proteins
● lipids or fats
● nucleic acids
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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
distinct and specialized
subcellular structures that
contribute to the cell’s mitochondria, nucleus,
Organelle maintenance and Golgi apparatus,
reproduction; endoplasmic reticulum
membrane-bound structures
in eukaryotic cells
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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
the smallest, basic,
skin cells, blood
functional unit of life formed
cells, muscle
Cell when different atoms and
cells or fibers,
molecules combine and
neurons
function together
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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
Four types of animal
groups of cells that tissue:
work together to ● epithelial tissue
Tissue
perform a ● connective tissue
specialized function ● muscle tissue
● nervous tissue 14
 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
groups of tissues that
work together to skin, lungs, heart
Organ
perform a specialized muscle, brain
function

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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
groups of organs that integumentary
work together to system, respiratory
Organ system
perform a certain system, circulatory
process in the body system

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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
formed by different organ
systems that create
humans, grasses,
complex interactions with
Organism dogs, cats,
one another to maintain
balance or homeostasis, mushroom
and sustain life
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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
organisms that belong humans living in the
to the same species same house, koalas
Population
and live in the same living in an area of
area the forest

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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
humans, cats, and
dogs living in the
different populations same house; koalas,
Community
living in the same area kangaroos, and
various tree species in
an area of the forest
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 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
humans, cats, dogs,
includes all the
and grasses getting
communities
resources from
Ecosystem interacting with one
nonliving things like
another and with their
soil, water, and
environment
sunlight 20
 Hierarchy of Biological Organization
Different levels of biological organization

Level of
Biological Description Examples
Organization
includes all the the entire surface of
Biosphere different kinds of Earth where life
ecosystem thrives

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Based on the levels of biological
organization, why are sponges
considered the simplest forms
of animals?

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 Type of Animal Tissues

Tissues
● These refer to groups
of cells that are
similar in structure
and function.

The four types of tissues in animals

vary significantly in structure and
function. 23
 Type of Animal Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Structure of Epithelial Tissues

● Epithelial tissue or epithelium is a type

Connective Tissue
of animal tissue that forms the inner
and outer lining of organs, the covering
Muscular Tissue in surfaces, and the primary glandular
tissue of the body.
Nervous Tissue

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 Type of Animal Tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Connective Tissue

Muscular Tissue

Nervous Tissue
The different types of cell-cell junctions
characterize various epithelial tissues. 25
 Type of Animal Tissues

simple squamous simple cuboidal simple columnar

Epithelial Tissue
No. of
layers and
Epithelial tissues Examples Functions
Connective Tissue shape of
cells

Muscular Tissue site of

one layer air sacs or
diffusion or
alveoli,
exchange of
flat, capillary
Nervous Tissue substances;
scale-like walls
secretion
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 Type of Animal Tissues

simple squamous simple cuboidal simple columnar

Epithelial Tissue
No. of
layers and
Epithelial tissues Examples Functions
Connective Tissue shape of
cells

Muscular Tissue glands and

one layer their ducts,
absorption
ovaries,
and
cube- and lining
Nervous Tissue secretion
shaped of kidney
tubules
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 Type of Animal Tissues

simple squamous simple cuboidal simple columnar

Epithelial Tissue
No. of
layers and
Epithelial tissues Examples Functions
Connective Tissue shape of
cells

Muscular Tissue absorption

one layer walls of
and
the gastro-
secretion;
elongated intestinal contains
tract and
Nervous Tissue or column- goblet cells
body
shaped that secrete
cavities
mucus 28
 Type of Animal Tissues
pseudostratified stratified stratified stratified
columnar squamous cuboidal columnar
Epithelial Tissue
No. of
layers and
Epithelial tissues Examples Functions
Connective Tissue shape of
cells

absorption and
Muscular Tissue secretion;
one layer the lining usually ciliated;
of the cells have
elongated respiratory unequal length
or column- tract and position of
Nervous Tissue nucleus forming
shaped a false layering
of cells
 Type of Animal Tissues
pseudostratified stratified stratified stratified
columnar squamous cuboidal columnar
Epithelial Tissue
No. of
layers and
Epithelial tissues Examples Functions
Connective Tissue shape of
cells

Muscular Tissue more than the protection

one epidermis, against
layer lining of abrasion or
mouth, constant
Nervous Tissue esophagus, exposure to
flat,
scale-like and vagina friction
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 Type of Animal Tissues
pseudostratified stratified stratified stratified
columnar squamous cuboidal columnar
Epithelial Tissue
No. of
layers and
Epithelial tissues Examples Functions
Connective Tissue shape of
cells

Muscular Tissue more than sweat

one glands,
salivary protection
layer
glands, and
Nervous Tissue and secretion
cube- mammary
shaped glands 31
 Type of Animal Tissues
pseudostratified stratified stratified stratified
columnar squamous cuboidal columnar
Epithelial Tissue
No. of
layers and
Epithelial tissues Examples Functions
Connective Tissue shape of
cells

Muscular Tissue more than

one male
layer urethra protection
and ducts and
Nervous Tissue elongated of some secretion
or column- glands
shaped 32
The trachea is lined with a
pseudostratified ciliated
columnar epithelium. How does
this structure prevent unwanted
particles like food from entering
the lungs?

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Connective Tissue

Muscular Tissue

Nervous Tissue The basic components of connective tissues vary

according to their type (left, extracellular matrix;
right, fibers and fibroblast). 34
 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Connective Tissue

Muscular Tissue

Nervous Tissue The different connective tissues vary with the

composition of their extracellular matrices and the
types of cells they consist of. 35
 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Connective

Description Examples Functions
Tissues

● layers of a very
Connective Tissue
hard matrix with
Bone or calcium salts
protection
osseous and collagen skull and
Muscular Tissue and
tissue fibers ribs
support
● consists of bone
cells called
Nervous Tissue lacunae

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Connective

Description Examples Functions
Tissues

Connective Tissue
● more flexible ● hyaline
matrix than cartilage
protection
Cartilage bone ● fibro
Muscular Tissue and
● cartilage cells cartilage
support
called ● elastic
chondrocytes cartilage
Nervous Tissue

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 Connective Tissues

Connective
Epithelial Tissue Description Examples Functions
Tissues

● Matrix is
Connective Tissue predominantly
Dense
made up of
connective
collagen fibers
or dense ● tendon
and has lesser support
Muscular Tissue fibrous ● ligament
cells.
tissue
● This is a
fibroblast or a
Nervous Tissue
fiber-forming cell.

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Connective

Description Examples Functions
Tissues

● Matrix
Connective Tissue ● areolar
contains
tissue
more cells protection,
Loose ● adipose
and lesser insulation,
connective tissue or
Muscular Tissue fibers than storage,
tissue fat tissue
dense and
● reticular
connective support
connective
Nervous Tissue tissue so it is
tissue
softer.
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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Connective

Description Examples Functions
Tissues

● plasma
Connective Tissue
● Cellular transport
components consist of
of blood cells. ● blood substance,
Blood
Muscular Tissue ● with fibers that are ● blood immune
only visible during cells response,
clotting because and blood
Nervous Tissue they are made up of clotting
soluble proteins
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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Connective Tissue

Muscular Tissue

Nervous Tissue The types of muscle tissues differ in their general

structure but more or less perform the same function,
i.e., to elicit movement. 41
 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Muscular Muscle

Location Description
Tissues Control

long,
Connective Tissue cylindrical,
striated (with
Skeletal attached to visible stripes),
Muscular Tissue muscle the skeleton and voluntary
or bones multinucleated
(with more
than one
Nervous Tissue
nucleus)

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Muscular Muscle

Location Description
Tissues Control

Connective Tissue found in the

made up of
walls of hollow
nonstriated,
Smooth organs such as
uninucleated,
intestines,
Muscular Tissue muscle and involuntary
stomach,
spindle-shaped
bladder, blood
(have pointed
vessels, and
ends) cells.
Nervous Tissue uterus

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Muscular Muscle

Location Description
Tissues Control

Connective Tissue uninucleated

(one nucleus)
Cardiac and has
found in the striations
Muscular Tissue muscle involuntary
heart
has
intercalated
Nervous Tissue disks

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Connective Tissue

Muscular Tissue

Nervous Tissue Neuron, the basic unit of the nervous system,

consists of structures that can conduct
electrochemical signals as a form of information. 45
 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Connective Tissue

Muscular Tissue

Neurons may be classified based from their number

Nervous Tissue
of cellular processes.

46
 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Nervous Tissues Location Function

These are
Connective Tissue star-shaped cells
that support and
control the chemical
Muscular Tissue environment around
CNS
the neurons.

Astrocytes These are the most

Nervous Tissue
abundant glial cell in
the CNS.
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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Nervous Tissues Location Function

Connective Tissue These are ovoid cells

in the CNS that can
transform into a
Muscular Tissue CNS phagocytic
macrophage to clean
neuronal debris and
Microglial cells wastes.
Nervous Tissue

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 Connective Tissues

Nervous Tissues Location Function

Epithelial Tissue

These are ciliated

cells that line the
Connective Tissue
central cavities of
the brain and the
spinal cord and form
Muscular Tissue CNS a fairly permeable
membrane between
the cavities with
Ependymal cells cerebrospinal fluid
Nervous Tissue
and the tissues of
CNS.
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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Nervous Tissues Location Function

Connective Tissue

These are
responsible for the
Muscular Tissue CNS
production of the
myelin sheath.
Oligodendrocytes
Nervous Tissue

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Nervous Tissues Location Function

Connective Tissue

They surround the

Muscular Tissue PNS cell body of a
neuron.

Satellite cells
Nervous Tissue

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 Connective Tissues

Epithelial Tissue Nervous Tissues Location Function

Connective Tissue
They surround all
the nerve fibers and
Muscular Tissue PNS produce myelin
sheath similar to the
oligodendrocytes.
Schwann cells
Nervous Tissue

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Remember

The structure and form of the tissues in

animals are always related to their functions.

Epithelial tissues are made up of tightly

packed cells because they cover and protect
bodily structures. Connective tissues are
characterized by the presence of ground
substances and fibers that support, bind, and
protect organs.
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Remember

Muscular tissues are made up of highly

specialized cells that contract to cause
movement. Lastly, nervous tissues mainly
contain networks of nerve cells that
possess irritability and conductivity to
allow the transmission and reception of
electrochemical impulses.

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 Check Your Understanding

Identify the level of biological organization described

in the items below.

1. a group of organs that coordinate to perform a specific

function
2. butterflies of the same species living in the same area
3. atoms and molecules interacting with one another

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 Check Your Understanding

Identify the type of animal tissue described in the

items below.

1. with extracellular matrix made up of ground substance

and fibers
2. classified based on cell shape and arrangement
3. composed of cells that conduct electrochemical signals

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● There are different levels of biological organization, and

these include the following (lowest to highest): chemical,
organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism,
population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere.

● Animals have four types of tissue: epithelial tissue,

connective tissue, muscle tissue, and nervous tissue.
They all differ significantly in structures and functions.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Epithelial tissue is composed of tightly packed cells

that cover, line, and protect the body part. It can be
classified based on cell arrangement (simple, stratified,
pseudostratified) and cell shape (squamous, cuboidal,
columnar).

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Connective tissue is made up of cells and an

extracellular matrix that connects, protects, and
supports body parts. Bone, cartilage, dense connective
tissue, loose connective tissue, and blood are the types
of connective tissue.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Muscular tissue is composed of highly specialized

muscle cells that contract to produce movement. It has
three types: skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles.

● Nervous tissue is made up of neurons that receive and

conduct electrochemical signals and supporting cells
(glial cells) that support, protect, and insulate neurons.

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Challenge Yourself

Polar bears have a thick adipose tissue

layer. What is the importance of this tissue
in the survival of polar bears during the
winter season?

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Photo Credit

● Slide 8: Animals-of-Israel-ver004, by MathKnight-at-TAU is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via

Wikimedia Commons.

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Wasserman. Biology: a Global Approach. Harlow, Essex, England: Pearson Education Limited,
2018.

Mader, Sylvia S. 2011. Concepts of Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Madigan, Michael T., Kelly S. Bender, Daniel H. Buckley, W. Matthew. Sattley, and David A. Stahl. Brock
Biology of Microorganisms. Harlow, United Kingdom: Pearson Education Limited, 2017.

Marieb, Elaine Nicpon. Human Anatomy & Physiology. New York: Pearson Education, 2004.

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