Specialized Cells

and the benefits of being multicellular…

Specialized Cells
• Plants and animals contain many cells. In a many-celled (multicellular)
organism the cells are often quite different from each other and are
specialized to perform specific functions.
• cells that have a particular adaptation to preform a special task
Specialized Cells
• This specialization starts with STEM CELLS, a
special type of cell that has the potential to
develop into many different cell types during
development.
Arrangement
• Least Complex
• Cells
• Tissues
• Organs
• Organ Systems
• Organisms
• Most Complex
Examples of Animal Specialized Cells
1. Red Blood Cell
2. White blood Cell and its types
3. Ciliated Epithelial Cell
4. Nerve Cell
5. Muscle Cell
6. Sperm Cell (gamete cell)
7. Ovum Cell (gamete cell)
Red Blood Cells
Red Blood Cell
• found in the blood
• Our blood is made up of a liquid part. The RBCs are found in this liquid
part of the blood.
Adaptation of Red Blood Cell
• It has the biconcave disc-shape for more surface area in exchanging
gases.
• It has no nucleus in its cytoplasm to have more space for the
hemoglobin.
Function of Red Blood Cell
• It carries the oxygen.
• It makes the blood red because it has hemoglobin.
White Blood Cell
White Blood Cell
• found in the blood
• protects us from bacteria or viruses
Adaptation of White Blood Cell
• There are 2 types of white blood cells:
- Lymphocytes: have large nuclei, produce antibodies to kill bacteria.
- Phagocytes : have lobed nuclei, engulf bacteria because the nucleus
allows it to change its shape.
Ciliated Epithelial Cells
Ciliated Epithelial Cells
• trap any dust or bacteria in the air we breathe.
• Smoking stops the ciliated epithelial cells from
working. If it stopped it may affect on our lungs.
• found in the trachea, bronchi and oviducts.
Adaptation of Ciliated Epithelial Cells
• It has cilia which is produced by the
cytoplasm.
• Cilia is a thin hair like structure.
Function of the Ciliated Epithelial Cells
• Mucus traps the dust particles, then
the cilia beats in a rhythm to move
this mucus out of the body.
• It helps the ovum to move.
Muscle Cells
Muscle Cells
• allow our bodies to move
• found in muscular system
Adaptation of the Muscle Cell
• It is long. It has bands of proteins.
• The muscle cells are arranged in fibers that helps it to run along the
length of the muscle.
• Types of Muscle Cells:
• Smooth Muscles
• Cardiac Muscles
• Skeletal Muscles
Skeletal Muscle
• for movement
• They are usually attached to bones.
• Skeletal muscles are voluntary. That means we are in control of
moving them.
• They also use a lot of ATP
or energy. There are a lot of
mitochondria found here.
Cardiac Muscle
• found only in the heart
• The heart is a muscle. It never stops.
• Involuntary muscle
• This also means that
it has a lot of
mitochondria as well.
It needs a lot of ATP.
Smooth Muscle
• Involuntary muscle
• Stomach, blood vessels, and
intestines contain smooth
muscle cells.
• These cells also have a lot of
mitochondria. They need
a lot of ATP as well.
Function of Muscle Cells
• contract and relaxes which helps the muscle to move.
Nerve Cells
Nerve Cells

• send the impulses to accomplish a task or

perceive a stimuli
• found in the nervous system
Adaptation of Nerve Cells
• long and branched
Function of Nerve Cells or Neurons
• carries the impulses
• The way it is branched allows the impulses to be conducted and co-
ordinated. It carries the impulses long distances without getting
interrupted.
• Neurons carry electrical impulses from your
body to your brain. They are very specialized.
• do not regenerate themselves.
• Impulses travel between neurons at the
synapse. The long tails of the cells are called
axons and the little extensions on the main cell
body are called dendrites. Neurons do have a
nucleus.
Sperm Cells
Sperm Cells
• male reproductive cell
• found in male reproductive system
Adaptation of the Cell
• It is long and has a neck, head and a tail.
• The head produces enzymes to enter to the ovum so fertilization can
take place.
• The neck has lots of mitrochondria which provides it with the energy
it needs.
• The tail pushes side to side to push the cell forward.
Function of Sperm Cell
• It carries the genetic information of
the male parent.
• It combines with the egg cell to form
a new embryo.
Egg Cell or Ovum
• reproductive cell
in females
• found in female
reproductive
system
Adaptation of Ovum
 Designed to be fertilized
Cytoplasm containing yolk  cytoplasm acts as the
stored food for
developing embryo
 An egg cell is large and
bulky.
 Contains yolk which
provides a large food
Layer of jelly store for the new cell
being formed.
Nucleus
Function of Ovum
• It provides food for the growing
embryo.
• It stores the genetic information of
the female part.
Examples of Plant Specialized Cells
• Root hair cell
• palisade cell
• cylem vessel/cell
ROOT HAIR CELL
• Thin cell wall
Designed for absorbing. Vacuole makes it easy
for minerals to
pass through.

thin cell wall

• Has a large
surface which Cell membrane
helps it to
absorb water • Found in a plant root.
and minerals.
Adaptation of Root Hair Cell
• It is a thin thread like structure.
• It is an elongated cell.
• It has no chloroplasts.
• It has many mitrochondria, that some
water and minerals are absorbed actively.
Function of Root Hair Cell
• Its absorbs some water and
minerals actively.
 PALISADE CELL
Nucleus

 Designed for
Photosynthesis

 Found in the top of a leaf

 Talland has a large

surface area to absorb
water and minerals.
Chloroplasts

 Packed with chloroplasts

to help make plant food.
Adaptation of Palisade Cells
• It has a large surface area.
• It has lots of chloroplasts.
• It has an oblong shape.
Function of Palisade Cells
absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis
Xylem Cell

Found in a plant (the stem)

Join together to form xylem tubes that carry

water from roots to leaves of plants
Adaptation of Xylem Cell
• It is long , thin hollow tube for uninterrupted flow
of water.
• The vessels are formed of column of cells with no
end walls, nucleus and cytoplasm.
Function of Xylem Cell
• helps to transport water and provide support.
Guard Cells in Plants
Why be Multicellular
• Multicellular organisms can grow much larger than single celled
organisms and still be efficient.
• Multicellular organisms are much more complex because they have
various cell types that can perform specialized functions.
(a division of labor)
• Survival of the organism is not dependent on just one cell.
Cells don’t really look like this…
Dallas Weins lost his face when he walked into power
lines. He is the first person in America to receive a full
face transplant.

face transplant