specialised cells

• How are sperm cells specialised?


  • acrosome shape with enzymes to penetrate the egg cell
  • many mitochondria to release energy for movement
  • tail allowing it to swim and reach the egg
• How are nerve cells specialised?

  • axon: long shape allowing for communication between distant body parts
  • dendrites allowing for communication with other nerves
  • myelin sheath with nerve impulses
• How are xylem cells specialised?


  • dead cells with a lumen - so the water and minerals can go through
  • long cells to transport water from the roots to the leaves
  • walls strengthen with lignin to make tubes strong and to prevent water loss.
• How are root hair cells specialised?


  • large surface area to increase the rate of water absorption by osmosis
  • many mitochondria to release energy for active transport of mineral ions
  • thin cell walls to reduce the distance for absorption
• How are phloem cells specialised?


  • sieve plates with pores that allow substances to through
  • companion cells with lots of mitochondria providing energy for active transport
  • living cells allowing for active transport in various directions
  • bidirectional flow so that water can flow through both directions
• How are muscle cells specialised?


  • long and thin cells allowing them to contract and stretch easily
  • many mitochondria to provide energy for movement
  • protein filaments; actin and myosin sliding over each other to produce contraction
  • store of glycogen that can be broken into glucose for respiration
  • specialised cell membrane (sarcolemma) that can rapidly conduct electrical impulses to trigger contractions