Specialised cells in animals and plants

This table gives some examples of specialised animal and plant cell types and their function.

Animal
Specialised Features of cell that allow it to perform its
or plant Function
cell type function
cell?

Beta cell (in Releases hormone Uses its genetic instructions to assemble
Animal
pancreas) insulin insulin

Contracts to allow
Skeletal Contains long protein filaments that can slide
Animal movement of body
muscle cell past each other to shorten the cell
parts

Transmits electrical Contain membrane proteins that carry out

Neuron
Animal impulses from one part active transport of sodium and potassium ions
(nerve cell)
of body to another to help 'recharge' the cell

Contains the protein haemoglobin, which

Red blood Carries oxygen to body
Animal binds oxygen. Has no nucleus so there is
cell tissues that require it
more space available to carry oxygen

Has a tail to allow it to swim to egg cell and

Transfers genes from
contains many mitochondria to supply ATP
male body to female
Sperm cell Animal for energy. Its head contains enzymes that are
gamete during sexual
released to help it break through the outer
reproduction
membrane of the egg cell

The building block of Cells have holes in their cell walls at each end
Phloem cell Plant the transport system for to allow sugars to move from one cell to the
sugars next

The building block of Cells are strengthened with a hard substance

Xylem cell Plant the transport system for called lignin to withstand changes in pressure
water and mineral salts of water

Cell organisation
In multicellular animals and plants, groups of specialised cellswork together to create more
complex structures:
 Groups of specialised cells that carry out particular functions are called tissues.
 Organs are body parts that are made of several different types of tissue and carry out one or
more particular functions.
 Groups of organs can work together in organ systems such as the circulatory system or the
respiratory system.
The order in which cells are organised can be summarised as: