Cell metabolism - somebody help me!

[themann_ca]

Hi everyone,
I am doing the skin for my VTCT Swedish course but have got really stuck on cell metabolism, its not in any of my books and i can't even seem to locate any info on the internet at the moment. I thought it was about the process of a cell moving up through the epidermis but my tutor said thats not it. Can anyone give an explanation of what it means?

Any help greatly received!

 

[ewmvsunu]

According to my text book:

Cell metabolism is the process (or really the sum of many ongoing individual processes) by which living cells process nutrient molecules and maintain a living state. Metabolism has two distinct divisions: anabolism, in which a cell uses energy and reducing power to construct complex molecules and perform other life functions such a creating cellular structure; and catabolism, in which a cell breaks down complex molecules to yield energy and reducing power. Cell metabolism involves extremely complex sequences of controlled chemical reactions

 

[Robert Haphazard]

hi Charlie

Welcome to HP

Metabolism refers to the many complex chemical reactions in the cells. Anabolism requires the net input of energy and catabolism produces a net output of energy.

 

[cfvgsczg]

Hi Charlie

It has been a while since I have thought about such things so:

In laymans terms, cell metabolism is a term that denotes the life process within a cell. It is the transfer, utilisation etc of energy to maintain life. Within each living cell there is a complete life happening, quite amazing all the processes going on to maintain just that cell alone.

I don’t have my old notes to hand but within a cell you have structures such as the endoplasmic reticulum, lysosome, mitochondira etc. These all play a vital part in cell life.

Now, my disclaimer is I am writing off the top of my head so please check it out for yourself. But again, I believe a simple answer to your question is cell metabolism is the processes a cell goes through in order to maintain life (of the cell). And from that point it becomes very interesting and vast. A fascinating subject!

RxXx