Organization functional units

Figure 2.19 Organization of polypeptide chains into domains. Small protein molecules like the epidermal growth factor, EGF, comprise only one domain. Others, like the serine proteinase chymotrypsin, are arranged in two domains that are required to form a functional unit (see Chapter 11). Many of the proteins that are involved in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, such as urokinase, factor IX, and plasminogen, have long polypeptide chains that comprise different combinations of domains homologous to EGF and serine proteinases and, in addition, calcium-binding domains and Kringle domains.

A unit of an organization which may perform one or more functions. Units of organization regardless of their names are also referred to as functions (see Functions). 

The antibody molecule is based on a four-chain structure organized into three functional units (Fig. 7.2) (Padlan, 1993). Two of the units are identical and mediate binding to the antigen these regions are called the Fab (fragment antigen binding) arms of the antibody. The other unit, Fc... 

The gray matter, which contains the cell bodies of neurons, is on the outer surface of the cerebrum and forms the cerebral cortex. The white matter, composed of the myelinated axons of neurons, is found underlying the cortex in the core of the cerebrum. These axons are bundled together according to function and organized into units referred to as tracts. The three types of tracts in the cerebrum are ... 

The kidneys lie outside the peritoneal cavity in the posterior abdominal wall, one on each side of the vertebral column, slightly above the waistline. In the adult human, each kidney is approximately 11 cm long, 6 cm wide, and 3 cm thick. These organs are divided into two regions the inner renal medulla and the outer renal cortex. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron (see Figure 19.1 and Figure 19.2). Approximately 1 million nephrons are in each kidney. The nephron has two components ... 

After the material flow, the information flow in the organization is described in a matrix where on the left side the functional units are represented. The process elements of level 3 are assigned to the functional units as depicted in Figure 1.6. From this figure it can be seen which departments are responsible for processes and where the responsibility is unclear. 

The functional unit of the central nervous system (CNS) is the neuron, and most neuropharmacological agents have the neuron as their primary site of action. CNS neurons are capable of transmitting information to and receiving information from other neurons and peripheral end organs, such as muscle cells, glandular cells, and specialized receptors, for example, those involved with proprioception, temperature sensing, and so on. 

---