Cell specialisation (animals)

Question 1

How are muscle cells adapted to their function?

Answer 1

These cells contract and relax.
-They contain special proteins which slide over each other, making the fibres contract.
-They contain many mitochondria to transfer the energy needed for the chemical reactions that occur as the cells contract.
-They store glycogen which can be broken down later to be used in respiration to release energy in the mitochondria.

Question 2

How are nerve cells adapted to their function?

Answer 2

Nerve cells transport electric signals because they have:
-Lots of dendrites (a short branched extension of a nerve cell) to make connections to other cells
-An axon that carries nerve impulses from one place to another
-Many mitochondria to allow chemical transmitters to be made and released

Question 3

How are sperm cells adapted to their function?

Answer 3

These cells need to move through the female reproductive system to fertilise an egg cell.
-In order to achieve this, the cell’s long tail helps it to move through the reproductive system.
-The middle section is full of mitochondria which transfers the energy needed for the tail to work.
-The cell has a large nucleus, which contains the genetic information to be passed on.