Name: ______________________________________ Class: _____________________________________
1. 3 Specialised cells
Specialised cells are cell that has developed specific structures and functions to perform a particular role in
the body.
Specialised Animal Cells
1. Red blood cells
Red blood cells are smaller than most other cells
in the body.
This allows them to get through tiny blood
capillaries, so they can deliver oxygen to every
part of the body.
The cytoplasm contains a red pigment (colour)
called haemoglobin. This carries oxygen around
the body.
The cell has no nucleus. This leaves more space for
haemoglobin.
2. Neurones
Neurones carry electrical signals from one part of
the body to another. They help all the different
parts of the body to communicate with each other.
For example, they can carry signals from the brain
to muscles, to make the muscles move.
The axon is a very long strand of cytoplasm.
Electrical signals can travel along this very
quickly.
Dendrites are short strands of cytoplasm that
collect electrical signals from other nearby nerve
cells.
3. Ciliated cells
Ciliated cells have tiny threads along one edge,
like microscopic hair. These are called cilia. The
cilia can move.
One place in the body that contains ciliated cells is
the lining of the tubes leading from your mouth to
your lungs.
Other cells in this lining make a sticky substance
called mucus. When you breathe in, the mucus
traps dust and bacteria in the air, to stop them
getting into your lungs. The cilia sweep the mucus
up to the back of your mouth and you swallow it.
Activity
1. List two things that red blood cells, neurones and ciliated cells have in common.
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2. How can you tell that all these three cells are animal cells, not plant cells?
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Specialised Plant Cells
1. Root hair cells
Root hair cells are found outside of plant roots.
Their function is to absorb water from the soil.
Each cell has a long, thin extension that allows
water to move easily from soil into the cell.
2. Palisade cells
Palisade cells are found in the leaves of plants.
Their function is to make food by photosynthesis.
They have a lot of chloroplasts containing
chlorophyll.
The chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight,
which is used to help the plant make food.
Activity
1. Suggest why root hair cells do not contain chloroplast?
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2. Water moves through several parts of the root hair cells, as it goes from soil into the sap vacuole. List these
parts, in order.
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1.4 Cells, tissues and organs
Tissues
Living things, including animals and plants, are called organisms.
There are many different kinds of cells in an animal or a plant.
Most of them are specialised to carry out a particular activity.
Usually, many cells of the same kinds are grouped together.
A group of similar cells, which all work together to carry out a particular function, is called a tissue.
The first is a diagram of a tissue from inside an onion. The second is a diagram of ciliated epithelium—the
It is called onion epithelium. This tissue covers the tissue that lines the tubes leading down to our lungs.
surface of the layers inside the onion. The cilia all wave together, like grass in the wind.
Organ
The bodies of plants and animals contain many different parts, called organs. For example, your organs
include your brain, heart and muscles. Plants’ organs include leaves, roots and flowers.
Each organ is made up of several different kinds of tissue, working together. For example, your brain contains
neurones, and also several different kinds of support cell. A plant root contains root hair cells, and also several
other kinds of cells.
Organ Systems
A set of organs that all work together to carry out the same function is called an organ system.
Activity
1. A group of similar cells is called a _______________________________.
2. An _______________________________is a structure made of many different tissues.
3. An __________________________ is a group of organs that carry out a particular function.
4. An ___________________________ is a living thing. It may contain many different organ systems, organs
and tissues.
