Specialised Cells

• What is an erythrocyte?


  Red blood cell
• What is a neutrophil

  Type of white blood cell
• What is a sperm cell?

  Male gametes
• Erythrocyte location


  Blood plasma
• Neutrophil location


  Bone marrow- travels to site of infection or injury
• Sperm cell location


  Testes
• Palisade cell location


  Mesophyll in plant leaves
• Root hair cells location


  Surfaces of roots, near growing tips
• Guard cells location


  Lower and upper epidermis of leaf
• Xylem location


  Roots, stems, leaves
• Squamous epithelium cell location

  Nephrons of kidneys, capillaries, alveoli
• Ciliated epithelium cell location

  Lines trachea
• Muscle location


  Walls of hollow, visceral organs (except the heart)
• Cartilage location


  Outer ear, nose, ends and between bones
• Phloem location


  Outside xylem
• Erythrocyte adaptations


  - No nuclei, more room for haemoglobin

  - Flexible, can squeeze through narrow capillaries

  - Biconcave disc shape, large SA for gas exchange
• Neutrophil adaptations


  - Multi-lobed nucleus, easier to squeeze through small gaps

  - Granular cytoplasm contains many lysosomes, contain enzymes to attack pathogens
• Sperm cell adaptations


  - Propeller (tail/flagellum) propeller allows movement

  - Midsection contains many mitochondria, supplies energy needed to swim

  - Acrosome on head contains genetic info and enzymes, allows penetration for fertilisation
• Palisade cell adaptations


  - Large vacuole to maintain turgor pressure

  - Rectangular box shape, closely packed together to form continuous layer

  - Thin cell walls, increases rate of diffusion of CO2

  - Chloroplasts move within cytoplasm, absorbs more light
• Root hair cells adaptations

  - Thin cell walls, allows water to enter easily

  - Long extensions (root hairs), increases SA and maximises uptake
• Guard cells adaptations


  - Change shape when they lose water, becoming less swollen

  - Cell wall thicker on one side, cell does not change shape symmetrically as volume changes

  - Spiral thickenings of cellulose, when cells turgid, stoma open, when cells flaccid, stoma closes

  - Stoma close to minimise water loss
• Xylem adaptations


  - vessel walls lined by (water proof) lignin, prevents collapsing and aids in water uptake

  - Made up of specialises cells called 'vessels', lose end wall so xylem forms hollow tube for continuous flow of water

  - Made of dead cells, ensures passage of water

  - Long and narrow lumen to facilitate capillarity
• Squamous epithelium cell adaptations

  - Thin due to single layer of cells, rapid diffusion
• Muscle adaptations


  - Skeletal muscle fibres contain myofibril which contains contractile proteins, allows contraction
• Cartilage adaptations


  - Contains elastin and collagen for strength and flexibility

  - Composed of chondrocyte cells
• Phloem adaptations


  - Sieve plates, sap moves through easily

  - Sieve tube cells have no nuclei, allows more materials to be transported
• Erythrocyte function


  Transport oxygen around the body
• Neutrophil function


  Ingest foreign cells and bacteria
• Sperm cell function


  Deliver genetic info to female gamete (ovum)
• Palisade cell function


  Absorb light for photosynthesis
• Root hair cells function

  Control uptake of water and minerals from soil
• Guard cells function


  Gas exchange for photosynthesis

  Regulate transpiration rates
• Xylem function


  Provides physical support

  Transports water and dissolved minerals up roots
• Squamous epithelium cell function

  Absorption and transportation of materials

  Diffusion, osmosis, filtration
• Ciliated epithelium cell function

  Sweep mucus away from lungs
• Muscle function


  Move different parts of the body and bones
• Cartilage function


  Prevents ends of bones rubbing together and causing damage
• Phloem function


  Transports sugars around plant
• Cilium epithelium cell adaptations

  - Goblet cells release mucus, traps unwanted particles

  - Have cilia, increase SA and brush mucus away from lungs