Cellular biology & case study discussion
Morphology is the science of studying the structure, shape and size of cells and tissues. Morphology is essential for understanding the function and structure of cells. Cell size and shape can have an impact on how cells interact with each other and how they carry out their functions.
Cells with flattened or long-lasting shapes, like endothelial cell in blood vessels, can better protect and allow for exchange of nutrients between tissues. For interaction and movement with other cells within the body, cells with irregular or round shapes, like immune cells, can be better.
It is important that cells have a structure to function properly. For example, the presence of certain organelles, such as mitochondria or ribosomes, can indicate the cell’s ability to produce energy or synthesize proteins. It is possible for the function of a cell to be affected by the arrangement of proteins or other molecules. For example, contractile proteins can be placed within muscles cells in order to enable movement.
Regarding the chosen conditions, ventricular hypertrophy is a condition where the heart’s muscular walls thicken, which can lead to reduced blood flow and increased risk of heart failure. In the development and maintenance of ventricular hypertrophy, the morphology of cardiac muscle cells plays an important role. Due to increased cardiac workload, hypertrophy results in an increase the size and number the cardiac muscle cells. The resulting morphological changes can lead to decreased cardiac function, and ventricular hypertrophy.
Retinoblastoma refers to a kind of cancer that occurs in the retina. It is caused when the genetic mutation affects the structure and function of retinal cell cells. This mutation can cause abnormal division and growth of retinal cells which may lead to tumor formation. A cancerous growth can cause a change in the morphology and function of affected cells, which could lead to loss of sight or even death.
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, and has been linked to changes in the morphology of the brain’s neurons and neurotransmitter systems. ADHD sufferers have decreased brain volume and altered function of certain neurotransmitter systems such as norepinephrine and dopamine. ADHD can be caused by changes in morphology, which may affect how neural circuits are constructed and the processing of information in the brain.