Cell Wall Structure: Primary vs. Secondary

Vocabulary-based flashcards covering the characteristics, formation, and structural differences between primary and secondary cell walls.

Primary cell wall [PCW]

The outermost, first-formed unilayer of the cell wall that is thin, elastic, and universal.

Growth of PCW

The primary cell wall is capable of growth, but gradually diminishes as the cell matures.

Secondary cell wall [SCW]

A hard, rigid, multilayered, and thick structure formed later on the inner side of the PCW.

Distribution of SCW

The secondary cell wall is not universal and is notably absent in meristematic cells.

Microfibril orientation in PCW

The arrangement of microfibrils is random in the primary cell wall.

Microfibril orientation in SCW

The arrangement of microfibrils is parallel in the secondary cell wall.

Thickness of PCW versus SCW

The primary cell wall is thin and common in most cells, whereas the secondary cell wall is thick and its thickness varies from cell to cell.