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1.3Biology 01. Structure And Function

Explain how the structures of some specialised cells are related to… — Cambridge Checkpoint Science 0893 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 5 parts Lesson 3 of 12 1 quiz

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1.3 Specialised Cells — CHECKPOINT - Lower Secondary Science 0893 notes: Explain how the structures of specialised animal and plant cells are related to their functions.Function = the job a cell does.Specialised cell = a cell with a structure that helps it do its function really …

  • Adaptation
  • Red blood cell
  • Neurone (nerve cell)
  • Ciliated cell
  • Sperm cell
  • Root hair cell

Section 1 of 5What a specialised cell is

What a specialised cell is
Function
Function the job a cell does.
Specialised cell
Specialised cell a cell with a structure that helps it do its function really well.
Adaptation
Adaptation a feature that makes a cell well suited to its function.

Section 2 of 5Specialised animal cells

Red blood cell
  • Red blood cell it transports oxygen.
  • It is smaller than most cells, so it can pass through tiny capillaries and reach every part of the body.
  • Its cytoplasm contains the red pigment haemoglobin, which carries oxygen.
  • It has no nucleus, which leaves more space for haemoglobin.
Neurone (nerve cell)
  • Neurone (nerve cell) it carries electrical signals from one part of the body to another.
  • The axon is a very long strand of cytoplasm along which signals travel quickly.
  • Dendrites are short branched strands that collect signals from nearby nerve cells.
Ciliated cell
  • Ciliated cell it moves mucus along the airways.
  • It has tiny moving hairs called cilia along one edge.
  • Mucus traps dust and bacteria, and the cilia sweep it up to the back of the mouth to be swallowed.
Sperm cell
  • Sperm cell it swims to fertilise the egg.
  • It has a tail for swimming and many mitochondria to release energy for swimming.
Egg cell
  • Egg cell it is fertilised and feeds the embryo.
  • It is large and has a food store.

Section 3 of 5Specialised plant cells

Root hair cell
  • Root hair cell it absorbs water and minerals from the soil.
  • It has a long, thin extension that gives a large surface area, so water moves in easily.
  • It has no chloroplasts because roots are underground and receive no light.
Palisade cell
  • Palisade cell it makes food by photosynthesis in the top layer of the leaf.
  • It contains many chloroplasts with chlorophyll, which absorb energy from sunlight.

Section 4 of 5Key terms

TermMeaning
Specialised cellA cell with a structure that suits it to one particular job.
AdaptationA feature that makes something well suited to what it does.
HaemoglobinRed pigment in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
NeuroneA nerve cell that carries electrical signals.
CiliaTiny hair-like threads on ciliated cells that move mucus.
Root hair cellA plant cell with a long thin extension that absorbs water from soil.
Palisade cellA leaf cell packed with chloroplasts that carries out photosynthesis.
Surface areaThe total area of the outside of a cell.

Section 5 of 5Exam technique

1
Saying red blood cells have a nucleus — they have none, which leaves more room for haemoglobin.
2
Saying root hair cells have chloroplasts — they are underground and receive no light.
3
Describing a feature without its effect — always link the feature to how it helps the function.
4
Saying all cells are the same — each kind of cell is specialised for a particular job.

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