The human body is comprised of trillions of cells. Over 200 types of cells make up the organs, bones, muscles and nervous system. All the cells have similarities, such as a membrane on the outer surface and organelles--structures that perform...
Six basic nutrients must be consumed to maintain cellular and tissue health. Protein, carbohydrates and fat are macronutrients and are needed in large doses in the diet. Vitamins and minerals are micronutrients and required in lesser amounts, but...
Sodium exists as an electrically charged mineral, called an electrolyte, in the body. The body maintains the concentration of sodium within narrow values because it is critical for proper cell functioning, and thereby proper organ function and...
Your bloodstream is critical to your survival, because it's what carries oxygen and nutrient molecules to your body cells. Nutrient molecules that you absorb from the digestive tract can dissolve in the blood, and cells remove them from the blood...
Carbohydrates are a type of nutrient needed to fuel body cells. Carbohydrates, also called carbs, are the most important source of energy for your body, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Body cells use...
Creatine is a popular protein supplement used by athletes and bodybuilders. It was estimated in 1998 that the market for creatine products was approximately $200 million. Creatine powder has become widely available in most general health and...
In order to produce energy, your body cells need the molecular building blocks of macronutrients, which are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Most body cells can use any of the macronutrient building blocks to produce energy, but some cells --...
The reason you need to consume food is to take in nutrients that your body uses to maintain your cells. Some of these nutrients are used by cells to provide energy. Others become the building blocks for cellular products; still other nutrients...
The human body has several sites that contain fluid or have the ability to accumulate large quantities of fluid when afflicted by disease. The chest cavities surrounding the lungs and the abdominal cavity are good examples of these. Body fluid...
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited condition that causes red blood cells (erythrocytes) to "sickle," or become C-shaped. This disease affects all major organs and body systems because they all rely on the blood to deliver essential nutrients and...
Different immune cells have different functions and are designed to react to different situations. They communicate through chemical signals and work together to protect the body from disease-causing organisms and remove dead or damaged cells. A...
Your immune system recognizes infectious microorganisms and mounts protective responses against the damage they would otherwise cause. Immune responses involve functionally distinct types of white blood cells (leukocytes). Leukocytes develop from...
Cells are the smallest units of the human body and all the functions of the body actually take place at the cellular level. In fact, the life of a human being begins as a single cell and formation of new cells is crucial to an organism's growth...
T cells are a type of white blood cell created in the bone marrow to defend the body against germs, bacteria and viruses. Every T cell is created with a special receptor that recognizes a unique antigen---a type of matter foreign to the body. When...
Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body. In people afflicted with sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells are rigid, sticky and shaped like crescent moons rather than rounded discs. These characteristics make sickle cells inefficient...
The massive diet industry is a testament to America's struggle with fat loss. The way fat cells behave in the body may help researchers find a way to intervene in cases of obesity and help reduce total body fat percentage permanently. Learning how...
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a member of the water-soluble B family of vitamins. As Kids Health notes, B vitamins are generally responsible for energy production and release. Each vitamin within this family also has an individual...
The body's largest organ is the skin, weighing about 6 lbs., according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It is essential in safeguarding the body from external deterrents that can damage internal organs. It acts to maintain body...
Oxygen is one of the chemicals upon which your cells are most dependent; you can survive only a few minutes without a continuous supply of oxygen. Your red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, and while they need certain...
Most people want to lose weight and complain about slow metabolisms, letting fat sit instead of burning it off. Some people have the opposite problem because they burn off fat too quickly. Their bodies require more calories than they eat. Others...
Protein is one of the three macronutrients humans need to survive; the other two are carbohydrates and fats. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), protein should make up 10 to 35 percent of your daily caloric intake....
The skin is made up of three layers: the epidermis, dermis and fat layer, also known as the subcutaneous layer. All layers combined protect the body's muscles, nerves, internal organs and blood vessels. Each layer of skin performs a specific task....
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that is produced in your body and stored in your skeletal muscles and liver. It plays an important role in the production of energy in your muscles. Cell Tech creatine is a commercial brand of...
White blood cells are part of your immune system and are found in your blood and tissue. Your body has several different types of white blood cells that fight infections by producing antibodies and cytokines, killing infected cells and removing...
Cancer, an abnormal growth of cells, may be caused by alterations of genes that keep cells from growing in the appropriate manner. Sometimes, cancer cells spread from the original site to another part of the body; this is called metastasis. Cancer...
Adults and developing children use food nutrition to fuel cellular growth, maintenance and repair. The process of metabolism transforms dietary protein, carbohydrates and fatty acids into usable energy, which enable the thousands of cellular...
You may have heard that carbohydrates are not good for your body. While some carbs, especially those containing large amounts of sugar and those included in items with a lot of fat, are not the most healthy choices, others are important to keep...
Cholesterol is a waxy, soft substance, present in all body cells and found in the blood stream. Cholesterol is actually produced in the body. It is a necessary substance for healthy cell membranes and for the production of hormones and Vitamin D.
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