specialised plant cells

structure and functions

what is specialised cells?

specialised cells have structures adapted to particular functions in an organism

what is the function of root hair cells?

• their function is to absorb water and dissolved minerals from the soil.

• increase the surface area of the cell to maximise the movement of water and minerals from the soil into the plant

Where is the root hair cell is located

• these cells are found on the outer surface of roots, near the tip.

what is the structure of root hair cells?

• many mitochondria to release energy for active transport

• long, thin shape to provide a large surface area to volume ratio.

• the cells have thin cellulose walls and a vacuole containing cell s with a lower water potential. Thus encourages the movement of water in to the cell.

what is the function of palisade mesophyll?

• these cells are found near the upper surface of leaves.

• their function is to absorb as much as light as possible for photosynthesis.

what is the structure of palisade mesophyll?

• transparent cell wall (lets light into the cell)

• many chloroplasts, at edge of cell (arranged to maximise light absorption and provide a short diffusion pathway for gas from outside the cell for photosynthesis)

• long cylindrical shape (enables packing of many cells into the layer and increases absorption of light.

What does the cell wall in the palisade mesophyll is made of?

And what does it maintain?

• cellulose

• Turgor pressure

what is the function of xylem?

• it is a tissue that is made of many dead xylems cells joined end to end.

• it transports water and dissolved minerals from the roots, through the stem and to the rest of the plant.

what is the structure of xylem?

• it has thick cell wall to support the plant

• end wall lost so that long tubes form

what is the function of phloem?

• it is a tissue that consists of two types of living cells: sieve tube elements and companion cells.

• it transports dissolved substances from one part of a plant to another.

what is the structure of phloem?

• it has sieve tubes element have pores in their end walls

• to let dissolved substances pass through