Animal Cell Specialisation Flashcards
most animal cells are specialised, what does specialised mean
have adaptations which help them carry out a particular function
what is it called when a cell becomes specialised
differentiation
what is the function of a sperm cell
to join with ovum (egg cell), this is called fertilisation
how is a sperm cell adapted
half the number of chromosomes of a normal animal cell: to ensure that when a sperm and egg fuse during fertilization, the resulting cell has the correct number of chromosomes
long tail + streamlined: to swim to egg cell
lots of mitochondria: provides energy through respiration for swimming
contains enzymes: allows them to digest their way through outer layer of ovum
HEEL (half, enzymes, energy, long tail)
what is the function of a nerve cell
send electrical impulses around the body
how is a nerve cell adapted
long axon that carry electrical impulses from one end of the body to another
axon is covered in myelin which insulates the axon and speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses
end of axon has synapses which are junctions which allow the impulse to pass from one nerve cell to another
cell body has dendrites which increases the surface area so other nerve cells can connect more easily
DAMS (dendrites, axon, myelin, synapses)
what is the function of muscle cells
to contract to cause movement
how are muscle cells adapted
contain protein fibres which can change their length (fibres shorten = length of cell decreases = muscle cell contracts)
lots of mitochondria to provide energy for muscle contraction
muscle cells work together to make muscle tissues
