Specialised cells: Cell biology: Biology: GCSE (9:1)

Sperm cell

An animal cell with a head containing genetic material for fertilisation and a tail for swimming to the egg cell

Nerve cell

An extended animal cell with many branches that sends electrical messages around the body

Muscle cell

An animal cell that contains sliding protein fibres to contract and allow movement

Red blood cell

An animal cell that has lost its nucleus to make remove for haemoglobin, a protein that binds to oxygen

Intestinal epithelial cell

An animal cell that is responsible for molecule absorption in the intestines, these cells have many tiny folds called microvilli that increase the surface area for absorption

Root hair cell

A plant cell which has a large surface area and thin walls to absorb water and minerals

Specialised cell

A cell which has differentiated to produce a new function