Bio- Specialised Animal Cells Flashcards
What is the function of a Red Blood Cell and how is it’s structure specialised for it’s function?
RBC’s carry Oxygen from the lungs to the body and Carbon dioxide from the body back to the lungs- this is needed for Respiration.
-It contains Haemoglobin which contains Oxygen molecules.
-It has no nucleus to make room to carry more Oxygen
-Is a Flat, Disc shape with dips on both side (Biconcave) - gives them a large surface area so easier to absorb as much Oxygen as they can in the lungs.
What is the function of a White Blood Cell and how is it’s structure specialised for it’s function?
WBC’s are attracted to diseases + bacteria that enter your body.
-They then ‘eats’ any bacteria/disease so the microbe can’t infect you and make you ill
They have a flexible shape, allowing them to squeeze through blood vessel walls and engulf pathogens
-Nucleus produces Proteins like Antibodies, essential for Immune responses.
What is the function of a Nerve Cell and how is it’s structure specialised for it’s function?
Nerve Cells transmit electrical signals to carry nerve impulses around your body, from messages sent by the brain.
-They are thin and extremely elongated cells- this means they can carry messages up and down the body over large distances very quickly.
-They have many branches at both ends to connect to other nerve cells- allowing them to pass messages around the body
-The Long axis (main branch) is covered by a fatty (myelin) sheath - to prevent the electrical impulses affecting the surrounding parts of your body + to increase the speed at which the message can travel.
What is the function of a Sperm Cell and how is it’s structure specialised for it’s function?
The Sperm cell carries the father’s genetic information, DNA, (in the Haploid Nucleus) to the egg, which it will fertilise, to form an embryo.
-Have a long tail to enable them to swim long distances to the egg
-Many mitochondria in the mid piece, providing energy for the tail to propel the sperm towards the egg.
-Tip of head (acrosome) releases enzymes to digest the egg membrane to allow fertilisation to take place
- Many Sperm produced to increase chance for fertilisation
What is the function of a Egg Cell and how is it’s structure specialised for it’s function?
They join with a sperm cell during fertilisation to form an embryo and an egg is released each month during the
menstrual cycle.
-The egg cell’s cytoplasm contains nutrients for the growth of the early embryo.
-The haploid nucleus contains genetic material for fertilisation.
-The cell membrane changes after fertilisation by a single sperm so that no more sperm can enter.
What is the function of a Muscle Cell and how is it’s structure specialised for it’s function?
Muscles cells are found in bundles which make up our muscles. These cells are able to contract (get shorter) and relax (return to original length).
-Cardiac (heart) muscle cells contract and relax to pump blood around our bodies for our entire lives. They never get tired.
-Smooth muscle cells make up thin sheets of muscle, such as the stomach lining. They can also be arranged in bundles, or rings, like that in the anus.
-Skeletal muscle is joined to bones. Its cells contract to make bones move and joints bend.
Villi?
Villi is a mm long structure in the small and large intestine, Millions of them poke out to absorb digested food and water into the blood.
-They have a large surface area.
-They have thin walls which are only one cell thick.
-The cells of the lining have tiny hairs to absorb more food and water.
What is the function of a Ciliated Cell and how is it’s structure specialised for it’s function?
Ciliated Cells line all the air passages down to the lungs.They have tiny hairs on their tops called Cilia, which beat in rhythm. These hair move mucus containing dust and other particles upwards and out of the airways (up the throat to be swallowed.) Ciliated cells are also found in the
oviducts -Here the tiny hairs beat to move the egg from the ovaries to the uterus.
-If you smoke then the hairs die and the mucus builds up leading to the well known smoker’s cough
