Some cells are small because they have a specific function to carry out. For example, red blood cells are designed for carrying oxygen so they are small so they can pass through the smallest blood vessels.

Other cells are small because they are not meant to be permanent residents of any one location.

For example, immune cells move around the body looking for signs of infection or other problems, and skin cells turn over every 24 hours to help maintain healthy skin. Small size allows for rapid growth.

As long as a cell doesn’t grow too large, it can divide quickly and produce many copies of itself in a short period of time. Many cancer cells grow rapidly because the cell is no longer under control. Small size allows for easy movement and attachment to surfaces. Since most cells are very small, they can move around easily within their environment.

Once attached to something like a wall or other cell, it can then do its job or start dividing into new daughter cells (called mitosis). Small size makes them easier to study under the microscope.

If you could look at your own white blood cell under an electron microscope (a powerful microscope that uses electrons instead of light waves), you would see a round blob with some bumps on it that look like tiny hairs called microvilli (singular: microvillus).

All microvilli point toward the center of the cell—the nucleus—which contains DNA that tells each cell how to make proteins and enzymes needed for all sorts of functions within your body such as digestion and immunity among many others.

Why are Cells so Important?

The human body has trillions of cells. These cells are vital to life because they allow the body to function properly. Cells are the smallest parts of the body and they make up everything from organs to bones. There are many different types of cells. Some examples are red blood cells, muscle cells, and nerve cells. Each type of cell has a specific function in the body and without these functions, life could not exist.

The word “cell” comes from the Latin word cella. This word means “small room.” Cells were first described as small rooms in plants by Robert Hooke in 1665. He observed them under a microscope and described them as having an outer membrane and a central area called the nucleus. The nucleus contained chromosomes, which control the inheritance of genes.

In 1838, Schleiden and Schwann found that plants are made up of cells. In 1839, Hugo Von Mohl showed that animal cells have the same basic properties as plant cells. By 1875, it was known that both plants and animals are made up of cells and all living things have cells.

Cells are found in all types of organisms from bacteria to humans. This is because every organism has a cell wall which is a barrier to keep water inside the cell or outside of it.

All organisms must maintain this barrier to live since they are made up mostly of water (70% – 90% water). Water cannot exist outside of a cell or inside the cell without being in a solution with other compounds such as salts or sugars.

If an organism loses its protective wall (cell wall) it will die because it will lose its water content (water is vital to life). A cell has many different parts, such as membranes and organelles, but these parts work together to allow life processes to occur within each organism that has cells.

There is usually only one type of membrane on each side of the cell wall (an example would be the plasma membrane), but there may be more than one on either side (for example nuclear membranes).

Organelles are structures within a cell that perform specific functions for that particular type of cell (for example ribosomes for protein synthesis).

The organelles themselves have membranes surrounding them so that their contents cannot escape or be invaded by other substances not meant for those organelles only.

Can Life Exist Without Cells?

No, it is not possible for life to exist without cells in the body. Cells are the basic building blocks of life. Without cells, there would be no life.

There are many different types of cells, but there are two main types: those that take in nutrients and expel waste, and all the rest. Every person has trillions of cells in their body, and every cell is alive.

Cells take in nutrients through the cell membrane and expel waste in the same way. They reproduce by dividing into two new cells. There are more than 200 kinds of cells just in the human body.

How Long do Cells Live For?

The average lifespan of a cell is around 2 to 2.5 days, but the lifespan varies depending on the different types of cells. For example, red blood cells last for around 4 months whereas skin cells live for about a day.

Why do Cells Die?

There are several reasons why cells die. One of the main reasons why they die is because they have become too old and worn out. When a cell has lived its natural lifespan, it stops dividing and can no longer function; it becomes old, sick and tired. Its DNA also becomes damaged, which makes it easier to get infected by viruses or bacteria that may cause cancer.

Cells also die when they are exposed to a lot of stress, such as being exposed to harmful chemicals or radiation. For example, cancer cells often have damaged DNA because they have been exposed to harmful chemicals or radiation. This makes the cancer cells very susceptible to viruses and bacteria that could make them multiply uncontrollably in the body.

Another reason for cells dying is that sometimes our bodies can’t replace them fast enough. For example, when we lose blood or skin due to an injury or when we lose bone marrow due to a bone marrow transplant.

Another reason is that sometimes new cells are not able to form properly as in the case of genetic disorders such as Down syndrome where babies tend to have fewer brain cells than normal babies do after birth.

Finally, some diseases can kill certain types of cells in the body such as in people with diabetes where insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed by high blood sugar levels over time (a disease called diabetes mellitus).

What Happens When a Cell Dies?

When a cell dies, its components are recycled by the body so new and healthy cells can be created. For example, if you lose blood through bleeding then your bone marrow produces more red blood cells which help you recover from your injury quickly and effectively.

When you say something is recycled, it doesn’t mean that it disappears into thin air. What actually happens is that all the contents inside a cell are broken down into pieces very small enough for your body’s digestive system to absorb them easily and use them again later on.

One type of waste product created from this process is called lactic acid which can be detected in the bloodstream after exercise when your muscles break down sugars for energy (which increases lactic acid production).

Lactic acid itself isn’t harmful but it does give off an unpleasant smell which is why we say someone has a bad odor after intense physical activity.

Final Thoughts

Cells are the building blocks of the human body. They make up skin, hair, nails, bones, muscles, organs, and blood. A cell is an extremely small unit that contains all the genetic information necessary for life.

The cells in humans are constantly reproducing and self-repairing. When they reproduce, they create new cells to replace the old ones that have died. When they self-repair, they fix any damage caused by wear and tear or disease.