HOW THE BODY CELLS LIVE G2sr06

 6. HOW THE BODY CELLS LIVE

Each cell is a little body living on its own. It moves, digests, grows, excretes and reproduces. But, living as it does in a community of cells, it is not independent at all. The specialized cells of the body are dependent on each other for such things as nourishment and the removal of their waste matter. For example, if the digestive cells of the food canal do not perform their function properly the muscle cells will not receive nourishment, or if the excreting cells do not take away poisonous waste the cells of the body will be poisoned and die.

Some cells of the body move, but not many. It is not necessary for the majority to move.

All the cells of the body need food. They receive their food from a fluid called lymph, which permeates all the tissues and bathes the individual cells. The lymph circulates through the tissues, carrying food obtained from the food canal, the intestines.

All cells excrete waste matter. When the food has been used, the waste matter which the cells do not require is passed into the circulating lymph and is thus carried away. It is taken to the cells of the organs which are specialized for removing waste matter from the body.

All cells reproduce their own kind and grow. In performing their work cells become tired, worn out and die. If the tissue of the organ is to maintain its health new cells are required to replace the old ones. The healthy cells accomplish this by splitting their bodies, so that one cell becomes two cells and the two cells four, and so on. These cells are young and small, but they get nourishment and they grow into adult cells, and so carry on the function of the organ.

It is plain, therefore, that each organ of the body must perform its work well if the other organs are to maintain their health When they are all functioning well the body is healthy. The individual is vigorous and free from discomfort of any kind. When any organ fails to do its work, all the organs are liable to become affected; changes take place in their cells and their functions are disordered. Such changes give rise to sensations of sickness, pain, loss of strength, bad appetite, fever, and so on. Then the body is said to be diseased.