Specialized animal and plant cells

Question 1

Define nerve cell

Answer 1

Found throughout an animal’s body - carry nerve impulses to different parts of the body. Long axons to carry electrical signals and myelin sheath (insulator) that helps to speed up signal transmission. Carries signals back and forth from the brain

Question 2

Define egg cell/ovum

Answer 2

Found in the reproductive parts of women. It is large to allow storage granules to feed the foetus. Has inbuilt mechanism that means once a sperm has fertilised its membrane it becomes impenetrable to other sperm

Question 3

Define sperm cell

Answer 3

Produced in the male reproductive organ - the testis. Function is to fertilise an egg cell. The head contains genetic information and an enzyme to help penetrate the egg cell membrane. The middle section is packed with mitochondria for energy. The tail moves the sperm to the egg

Question 4

Define red blood cell

Answer 4

Found in blood vessels in animals
Contains haemoglobin - carries oxygen to cells in body
Biconcave shape - increases surface area
No nucleus - whole cell is full with haemoglobin

Question 5

Define cilliated cells

Answer 5

Found in air passages in lungs and in oviducts of female reproductive system. Have cilia on their surfaces that beat back and forth to create a current in the fluid next to the cell surfaces.

Question 6

Define palisade mesophyll cell

Answer 6

Found in the top layer of leaves in plant. Packed with chloroplasts - absorb light energy for photosynthesis

Question 7

Define root hair cell

Answer 7

Found in the tips of roots that are growing through the soil. Long extensions - large surface area - absorb water and inorganic ions from the soil