Chapter 3 – Cell Structure

and Function
 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function

3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and

Animal Cells
You should be able to:
■ draw and label simple diagrams to show the structure
of unspecialised plant and animal cells;
■ state the functions and explain the importance of
the cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, chromosomes,
cytoplasm, mitochondria, vacuoles and chloroplast;
and
■ differentiate between plant and animal cells.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure of Unspecialised Plant and Animal Cell

Animal and plant cells have the following features in common:

• Cell membrane
• Cytoplasm
• Nucleus
• Vacuole
• Mitochondria

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Differences between plant and animal cells:

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Cell membrane – a cell’s protective coat

• It separates and protects a cell from its surrounding
environment.
• It consists of a double layer of phospholipids. Embedded within
are other molecules such as proteins, that act as channels and
pumps to move different molecules into and out of the cell.
• It controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell
and is said to be partially permeable.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Cytoplasm – a cell’s inner space

• It is the watery material between the nucleus and the cell
membrane with a jelly-like consistency.
• It contains mainly water and dissolved materials, allowing
materials to move around the cell through a process called
cytoplasmic streaming.
• The function of the cytoplasm, and the organelles which reside
in it, are critical for a cell’s survival.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Nucleus – a cell’s centre

• It is usually spherical, separated from the cytoplasm by a
double membrane called the nuclear envelope.
• It stores deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is wound into
structures called chromatin. DNA is the genetic material of an
organism, carrying instructions for cell activities and heredity.
• Its function therefore, is to protect the cell’s genetic material
and control cell activities. It plays an important role in DNA
replication and protein synthesis (see Chapter 20).

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Vacuole – a cell’s storage space

• In a plant cell, the vacuole is a permanent structure with a fixed
shape, occupying a large central part of the cell. It is
surrounded by a membrane (tonoplast) and contains cell sap, a
solution of mineral salts and sugars.
• Plant cells pump a lot of water into the vacuoles which expand
and push against the cell wall. This creates a turgor pressure
which is important to the plant to keep the cells turgid and thus
provide support to the plant (see Chapter 4).

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Vacuole – a cell’s storage space

• In animal cells, the vacuoles are small and scattered throughout
the cytoplasm. They are
temporary structures and are
membrane-bound sacs which have
various functions such as:
• transporting materials,
• storing sugars,
• containing digestive enzymes to digest invading bacteria,
• helping the cell to expel excess water.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Mitochondria – a cell’s power generator

• They are rod shaped and surrounded by a double membrane
with an inner membrane extensively folded. They are sites of
respiration (see Chapter 5) and are responsible for the release
of energy which is subsequently stored in adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) molecules.
• Cells which have a high metabolic rate need a constant supply
of energy. These cells, such as muscle and liver cells, contain a
large number of mitochondria.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Cell wall – a plant cell’s extra armour

• It is found only in plant cells; it is an extra layer of material in
addition to the cell membrane.
• Unlike the cell membrane, the cell wall is fully permeable. It is a
rigid structure made up of cellulose and provides strength and
shape to the cell.
• It prevents the plant cell from bursting when too much water
enters the vacuole
(see Chapter 4).

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.1 The Structure and Function of Plant and Animal Cells

Structure and Function of the Cell and Its Organelles

Chloroplasts – a plant cell’s solar generator

• They are similar to mitochondria but are found only in plant
cells which photosynthesise. They are flat discs, surrounded by
a double membrane called the chloroplast envelope.
• They are usually green in colour because of a pigment called
chlorophyll. During photosynthesis, chloroplasts trap light
energy from the Sun and energy is stored in ATP (see Chapter
15).

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function

3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular

Organisms

You should be able to:

■ explain the importance of cell specialisation; and
■ differentiate between cell, tissue, organ and organ
system.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Cell Specialisation

• Multicellular organisms are composed of several

different types of cells; each cell is differently adapted
to perform a specific function.
• As the cells are produced and developed, they change
their structure in some ways to specialise in a specific
function.
• This process of development is known as cell
differentiation.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Examples of specialised cells in plants and animals:

Xylem vessels
• are pipe-like columns;
• provide support;
• transport water and mineral salts from roots to other
parts.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Xylem Vessels
UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES
 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Examples of specialised cells in plants and animals:

Root hair cell

• has a long narrow extension of the cell;
• has a large surface area to volume ratio;
• increases the rate of
diffusion of water
and mineral salts.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Examples of specialised cells in plants and animals:

Red blood cells

• supply oxygen to other body cells;
• contain red pigment called haemoglobin – combine
easily with oxygen;
• do not have nucleus – can pack more haemoglobin;
• are biconcave shaped – increase surface area;
• have an elastic cell membrane – allows them to be
squeezed through narrow cap

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Cell Organisation

• Some organisms, such as bacteria, are unicellular,

consisting of a single cell. Other organisms, such as
humans, are multicellular, or have many cells − an
estimated 100,000,000,000,000 cells!
• Multicellular organisms are composed of several
different types of cells organised into organ systems
which work with one another to ensure that the whole
organism functions effectively.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Cell Organisation

The different levels of organisation are as follows:

1. Similar cells work together as tissues to carry out a
particular function.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

2. Different tissues work together as an organ to carry

out a particular function.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

3. Different organs work together as an organ system to

carry out a particular function.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

4. An organism consists
of several organ
systems with each
carrying out its own
function.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Other systems include the:

• respiratory system,
• circulatory system,
• nervous system,
• digestive system,
• excretory system,
• musculo skeletal system, and
• reproductive system.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function
3.2 Cell Specialisation in Multicellular Organisms

Cell Organisation
• Plants are also multicellular organisms.
• Epidermal cells make up the epidermal tissue. Xylem
cells and phloem cells make up the vascular tissue.
Many other cells of the cortex and pith make up the
supporting tissue of the stems.
• These different plant tissues group together to form
the plant organs – the roots, leaves and flowers.
• The different organs make up the organ systems of the
plant – the roots or shoots system.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function

Fig 3.20: Plant organs

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function

Key Concepts
Cell structure and organelles
• All plant and animal cells have a cell membrane made up of
proteins and phospholipids, cytoplasm, a nucleus which
contains deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and rod-shaped
structures involved in respiration called mitochondria.
• Plant cells are also surrounded by a cell wall which is made up
of cellulose. The cell wall is fully permeable unlike the cell
membrane which is partially permeable. The cell membrane
controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function

Key Concepts
Cell structure and organelles
• Plant cells are occupied by a large central vacuole which
contains a solution of salts and sugars called cell sap. This
vacuole is surrounded by a membrane known as the
tonoplast.
• Animal cells may also contain vacuoles; however they are
smaller and scattered throughout the cytoplasm.
• Chloroplasts are found in plant cells which photosynthesise.
They contain a pigment called chlorophyll.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES

 CHAPTER 3 Cell Structure and Function

Key Concepts
Cell specialisation and organisation
• Cells become specialised in structure to perform a specific
function in a process called cell differentiation.
• Similar cells work together as a tissue to carry out a particular
function.
• Different tissues work together as an organ to carry out a
particular function.
• Different organs work together as an organ system to carry
out a particular function.
• A multicellular organism is made up of many organ systems
working together.

UNIT II LIFE PROCESSES