GCSE Biology (AQA)

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Specialised Animal Cells

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Cell Biology Cell Structure

Specialised Animal Cells

5:19 Cell Specialisation and Differentiation
Spec 4.1.1.3
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  • Specialized cells perform specific functions in the body and develop unique subcellular structures.
  • Eukaryotic organisms consist of many specialized cells, such as sperm cells, nerve cells, and muscle cells.
  • Sperm cells are designed to swim through the female reproductive system to fertilize an ovum, using a tail for movement and mitochondria for energy.
  • Sperm cells contain half the DNA of body cells and have enzymes in their head to penetrate an egg cell.
  • Nerve cells (neurons) connect to the brain and spinal cord, carrying nerve impulses that control actions.
  • Neurons have a cell body, dendrites to pick up impulses, a long axon to transmit impulses, and synapses to link with adjacent nerve cells.
  • Neurons contain many mitochondria to produce energy needed at synapses.
  • Nerve impulses are electrical signals traveling along nerve cells, insulated by a fatty layer to speed up transmission.
  • Muscle cells can contract to move body parts and contain many mitochondria to provide energy for contraction.
  • There are three types of muscle cells: skeletal (joined to bones), cardiac (allows heart contractions), and smooth (lines blood vessels and intestines).
  • Muscle cells have protein filaments that slide over each other to cause contraction.
  • Skeletal muscle cells fuse during development to form multi-nucleated cells that contract in unison.

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