Specialised animal cells

• Erythrocytes (red blood cells) properties: contain haemoglobin, 2x smaller than neutrophils, biconcave shape, has no nucleus or mitochondria.
• Neutrophils (white blood cells) properties: 2x the size of erythrocytes, spherical, can change shape, larger number of lysosomes, flexible nuclear membrane and has a lobed nucleus. It also has a small Golgi app and no ER.
• Squamous epithelial cells properties: found on skin surfaces, stomach lining, blood vessels and alveoli. They can be stratified, columnar, cuboidal or flat squamous. They have a smooth frictionless surface for optimum gas exchange and has no blood vessels in its structure.
• Ciliated epithelial cells properties: epithelial cells contain cilia. They beat in a coordinated fashion.
• Sperm cell properties: the head contains genetic material (condensed haploid nucleus)and the acrosome. It has an acidic vacuole, lots of mitochondria and a flagella.
• Erythrocytes function: oxygen and carbon dioxide binds to haemoglobin to be transported to and from the lungs, around the body.
• Neutrophils function: destroys pathogens by the process of phagocytosis in immune response, it can squeeze through junctions and capillaries, has lysosomes to defeat invading cells and has pseudopodia.