Specialised Cells Flashcards
Red blood Cells
What is it’s structure, and how does this help them?
What does it contain which helps perform its function?
What doesn’t it contain?
What is a property of the Red Blood Cell?
Red Blood Cells have a bio-concave structure which increases the surface are to volume ratio increasing the exchange surface so more oxygen is absorbed.
Also has a thin membrane giving it a short diffusion pathway.
Contain haemoglobin- a specialised molecule designed to bind to oxygen.
Doesn’t contain a nucleus so there is more room for oxygen.
Flexible which allows it to bend and enter small capillaries under a high pressure.
Sperm Cell
How is the head adapted to penetrate the egg cell?
How many chromosomes does the sperm cell have?
What is the name of the “middle piece” of the sperm cell and what does it contain?
What adaptation allows the sperm to move through the fluid?
The acrosome contains digestive enzymes to penetrate the egg cell.
The nucleus in the sperm cell contains 23 chromosomes.
The Collar contains many mitochondria needed to produce ATP so the cell can “swim” which requires lots of energy.
The flagellum allows for locomotion which cause the cell to swim through the fluid requiring less energy as it’s used more efficiently.
Ilium Epithelial Cells
What do the finger like projections do to aid the function of the cell?
What organelles does the cell have?
What else makes the Ilium Epithelial Cells specialised for its function?
Ilium Epithelial Cells has finger like projections called microvilli which increase the surface area allowing for faster and more absorption.
The Ilium Epithelial Cell has:
•Golgi Apparatus- Which process, package, modify and transport biological molecules which have been absorbed by the Cell.
•Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum- Which fold proteins quickly that have been absorbed.
•Lots is mitochondria- Produces ATP for active transport and co-transport, not a passive process.
They have a good blood supply to maintain a large concentration gradient and a short diffusion pathway so substances can be absorbed faster.
White Blood Cell
What organelle do White Blood Cells contain lots of?
What is this organelle needed for the White Blood Cell to carry out its function?
White blood cells have lot of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum which have lots of ribosomes to synthesise and fold lots of proteins.
White Blood Cells use antibodies to kill and destroy pathogens which are proteins hence the need for lots of proteins. Phagocytes engulf the pathogens and use hydrolytic enzymes, which are also proteins, to break down the pathogens and destroy them.
Root Hair Cell
How does the shape and structure of the Root Hair Cell help to perform its function?
Why are lots of mitochondria needed for a Root Hair Cell?
Has Root Hairs which increase the surface area of the Cell to allow for an increased surface for absorption increasing the rate of diffusion.
Lots of mitochondria are needed to produce ATP for active transport.
