Specialised cells

• Sperm cells - Transfer male genetic information to the egg cell. Function:


  • Flagellum (tail) allows sperm to swim to egg
  • Lots of mitochondria in middle section to provide energy
  • Digestive enzymes in acrosome break down egg cell to allow fertilization
• Red Blood Cells - Transport oxygen from lungs to tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs. Function:


  • Biconcave shape increases surface area for gas exchange
  • Hemoglobin - Protein which carries oxygen
  • No nucleus maximizes space for hemoglobin to transport oxygen
  • Flexible membrane for cells to pass through narrow capillaries
• Root hair cell - Absorbs water and nutrients from soil. Function:


  • Found on plants roots
  • Increases surface area for efficient absorbsion
  • Vacuole has more cell sap so more concentrated than water in soil - creates water potential gradient for efficient absorbsion
  • Lots of mitochondria for energy for active transport of minerals from soil
• Palisade cell - Carries out photosynthesis. Adaptation:


  • Found near surface of leaf
  • Full of chloroplasts
  • Rectangular shape - packed close together
  • Lots of surface area down sides for absorbing carbon dioxide from air into leaf
• Nerve cell - Carries electrical impulses around body. Adaptations:


  • Long axon to carry impulses around body over long distances
  • Axon also branched at ends to pass signals between eachother
• Ciliated epithelial cell - Cell in throat which moves muscus and other substances along tissues to trap pathogens and protect the body. Adaptation:


  • Extended cytoplasm, hair like structures called cilia
  • Cilia beats to move muscus and trap particles in throat