Cells are what make up all living things. They are the building blocks of life.

Plant and
animal are built up of cells that are stuck together.

Structure of Animal and Plant Cells

TIP

It is important that you know the structure of animal and plant cells and

are able to label the different parts. It is a favourite with examiners to have diagrams
of cells requiring labelling in exams
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There are many similarities and differences between animal and plant cells.
Make sure you know these.
Similarities

Differences

1. Have a nucleus

1. Plant cells have a cellulose cell wall

2. Have a cytoplasm

2. Plant cells have a vacuole containing cell sap

3. Have a cell membrane

3. Plant cells have chloroplast

4. Contain mitochondria

4. Many plant cells have a box-like shape whilst animal cell

shape varies

5. Contain ribosomes

5. Plant cells have the nucleus to the side of the cell, animal
cells have a nucleus in the middle

Cell Specialisation
Now we have established the general features of both animal and plant cells we must also
remember that many cells do look different and this is because they have their own
special jobs to do. These cells display specialised features that make them suited to carry
out their specific function.

Cell Specialisation Animals

Cell Type
Red Blood Cell

Specific Function

Specialised Feature

Contain haemoglobin
which transports oxygen
to other cells and
around the body.

Have
biconcave
shape for maximum
surface area to allow
more oxygen to be
absorbed efficiently.

Biconcave
shape
also allows for a
flexible
framework
which means cells
can squeeze through
the
thinnest
of
capillaries.

Cells have a thin

outer
membrane
allowing oxygen to
diffuse through easily.

Have no nucleus so
there is more room
for oxygen to be
carried in the cell and
hence around the
body.

The tail of the sperm

cell enables it to swim
to the ovum and
fertilise it.

The
head
is
streamlined also to
aid swimming

The head contains

genetic
information
and a nucleus and
has an enzyme to
help penetrate the
egg cell membrane to
allow fertilisation.

The middle section

immediately behind
the head is packed
with mitochondria to

Sperm Cell
To fertilise the ovum
(female egg cell).

provide energy.

Nerve Cell
Transmit electrical
nerve impulses and so
carry information from
one part of the body to
another ie from receptor
to an effector.

Dendrites
extend
from the cell body to
make
connections
with other neurones.

Have a long axon

(nerve fibre) to carry
the impulse to the
target organ.

End plate forms a

synapse
with
an
effector (a muscle or
a gland).

[Motor Nerve Cell]

Cell Specialisation Plants

Cell Type

Specific Function

Specialised Feature

Small tubes that carry

water from the roots to
the leaves.

Long and tube-like

hollow vessels to
carry the water.

Cells have no end

walls between them
so they form a
'pipeline' to carry the
water.

Spirals and rings of

lignin in the cell walls
strengthen them to
withstand pressure
of water.

Xylem Cell

Root Hair Cell

Absorb water and
mineral ions from the
soil.

Located in the root

epidermis and in
direct contact with
the soil

Thin walls
up-take of
easier.

Wall nearest the soil

has
a
long
'finger-like' projection
with very thin walls
into the soil. This
projection increases
the surface area for
more efficient uptake
of water and ions.

Packed
with
chloroplasts
which
contain the light
absorbing pigment
chlorophyll.

Regular
shaped
closely packed cells
forming a continuous
layer for efficient and
maximum absorption
of sunlight.

make
water

Leaf Palisade Cell

Carries out
photosynthesis.