1.1.16

Specialised Cells

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Specialised Cells

Some cells look different from the ‘normal’ animal and plant cells. They are called specialised cells. Specialised cells have been adapted to perform a specific role.

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Red blood cells

  • Red blood cells are adapted to carry oxygen around the body. They contain haemoglobin.
  • This is a protein that transports oxygen.
  • They have no nucleus.
  • They have a large surface area in a bi-concave disc shape.
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Neurones / nerve cells

  • Neurones send and receive messages from the nervous system.
  • They are long and thin and so can transport messages over large distances around the body.
  • They can be 2m long.
  • They have lots of branches and so can connect with other neurones.
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Ciliated cells

  • Ciliated cells have little tiny hairs on their surface called cilia.
  • Cilia are long and thin hairs that line the airways.
  • They move in a sweeping motion to trap microbes from the air in mucus. Mucus is a secreted substance.
  • When the microbes are trapped in mucus, the cilia move them up to the mouth so they can be swallowed.
  • Smokers can develop a smokers' cough.
    • This is when the cilia are destroyed and so the mucus can not be swept up to the mouth and hence they have a constant cough to try to remove the mucus.
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Root hair cells

  • Root hair cells absorb water and mineral ions.
  • They have a large surface area.
  • The cell wall is thin to make absorption easier.
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Palisade cells

  • Palisade cells absorb light for plants to photosynthesise.
  • They are found on the upper surface of leaves.
  • They contain lots of chloroplasts which are close to the edge of the cell.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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