As the human body is powered by oxygen, the last cells to die are those that least need oxygen: the epithelial cells of the cornea. The lower dependence on oxygen has two explanations. First: the corneal cells are almost not irrigated by blood vessels and they are responsible for bringing oxygen to all the cells in the body. In addition, corneal cells are in direct contact with atmospheric air, which facilitates their oxygenation. Thanks to this ability to remedy death, the corneas of a dead person can be removed up to six hours after death and successfully transplanted. On the other hand, neurons can die even before their owner. They need so much oxygen that, if a person spends just a few minutes without breathing, they can already have irreparable damage to the brain and lose functions such as speech or movement.
Neurons are both the longest and shortest cells in our body.
SHORTER AND LONGER
Neuron holds both records. Thanks to the axon – an extension of the cell membrane that conducts electrical impulses – a neuron can be more than 1 meter long, connecting, for example, the spine to the tip of the foot, or even 2 micrometers (1 meter divided by 1 million)
MORE ABUNDANT
The largest organ in the human body is the skin (yes, the skin is an organ) and, precisely because of this, the cells we have in greater quantity are the epithelial ones. In addition to covering the entire body, they involve all other organs.
WEIRDER
Every cell has a membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus. But one goes against this rule: the muscle cell, which has several nuclei. In addition, it has a cytoplasm full of filaments that contract and give it a fibrous appearance, quite different from any other
MORE RENEWABLE
No, it’s not the red blood cells. The record for renewal belongs to the epithelial cells of the stomach and intestine. In addition to being used exhaustively, they suffer the action of aggressive substances, such as acids, and need to be replaced every three days.
LARGEST CELL
The egg is the largest cell in the human body because, in addition to carrying the mother’s genetic material, it also needs to have enough nutrients to feed the first cells that appear after fertilization, before the egg is fixed in the uterus.
SMALLER CELL
Since the sperm’s only role is to find the egg to pass on the father’s DNA, it only needs to be agile and nothing else. Its size is just enough to carry the male’s genetic material to the egg.