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The Cell: Muscle Cells

Related Article: Learn more about muscle.

Muscle cells contain long, thin myofibrils. Myofibrils are made up of actin and myosin. These proteins enable muscles to contract or expand.

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National Body Challenge 2008: Stomach Fat (2:33)

Identical twins, Fiona and Vanessa Distefano, get a personal body evaluation from Doctor Peeke.

David Bolinsky Talks About Cells at TED (11:42)

Watch this video showing David Bolinsky talk about cells and the beauty of biology at TED on HowStuffWorks. Bolinsky is a master at medical animation and showed the TED Conference an animated movie of how our body works at the cellular level. See... More »

DNA Damage from UV Rays (1:34)

Watch this video about protecting your DNA from the sun on HowStuffWorks. A dermatologist has created a lotion that stimulates skin cells to protect themselves against UV rays and radiation from the sun. Learn how this lotion helps prevent DNA... More »

Are You Infected with the Fat Virus (1:41)

Watch this video to see if you are infected with the fat virus on HowStuffWorks. You've likely seen the latest headlines about how a common-cold virus might contribute to obesity, but did you know there is a test developed by a University of... More »

Smart Bacteria in Your Gut (5:38)

Watch this video about bacteria on HowStuffWorks. University of Chicago researcher John Alverdy, M.D., has discovered a way to keep bacteria from communicating, which may help save surgical patients from dying of infection. Copyright 2005 The... More »

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The Cell: Blood Cells (1:16)

Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. White blood cells defend the body from bacteria and other microorganisms.

The Cell: Neurons (1:12)

Neurons make up the nervous system. A neuron is a single cell that consists of a cell body, dendrites, and an axon.

The Cell: Bone Cells (0:13)

Bone cells secrete calcium to form bone.

The Cell: Muscle Cells (0:49)

Muscle cells contain long, thin myofibrils. Myofibrils are made up of actin and myosin. These proteins enable muscles to contract or expand.

The Cell: Skin Cells (0:37)

The epidermis is a thin outer part of the skin made up of cells that fit closely together.

The Cell: Specialized Plant Cells (1:10)

Root cells do not have chloroplasts, but absorb water and nutrients from the soil through root hairs. Xylem conducts water from the roots.

The Cell: Chloroplasts and Photosynthesis (0:50)

Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts. Plants convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose via photosynthesis.

The Cell: The Cell Wall and Vacuoles (0:57)

The cell membrane in a plant cell is surrounded by a rigid cell wall. Plants store fluid and materials in vacuoles.

The Cell: Golgi Bodies (0:19)

Proteins and other chemicals are packages for export in Golgi bodies.

The Cell: Lysosomes (0:28)

Food is digested by enzymes in organelles called lysosomes.