➔ CELL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

CELL: The cell is the basic structural & functional unit of life.
● ALL known living things are made up of one or more cells.
● ALL living cells arise from pre-existing cells by division.
● Smallest living unit in all organisms
● The detailed structure of a cell has been studied under a
compound microscope and electron microscope.
● Specific structures can be seen under an electron microscope.
● The structure of a cell as seen under an electron microscope
is called ultrastructure.
● FUNCTIONS OF ORGANELLES

● Nucleus:
Function: Contains genetic material(DNA) in chromosomes which
control how cells grow and work
Controls cell division and cellular activities
Nuclear envelope/membrane,Nucleoplasm + DNA

● Cytoplasm:
Function: It contains specialised structures called organelles.
Jelly-like structure, site of many chemical/metabolic reactions
Support cell, contains water and many solutes, in movement(cytosis)

● Cell Membrane(plasma membrane):

Function: Controls substance entering and leaving the cell
Made up of phospholipid bilayer. Partially permeable, hold cell
Made of lipids and proteins, Flexible

● Cell wall:
Function:Gives shape & provides support to plant cell. Made up of
Cellulose, Fully permeable,is rigid which makes it withstand high
water pressure for the maintenance of cell shape and turgidity

● Chloroplast:
Function: Site of photosynthesis, providing food for plants
The chlorophyll(green pigment) pigment absorbs the light energy
needed for the reaction to occur

● Vacuole:
Function;
Used for storage of certain materials and also help support the
shape of the cells, contain cell sap

● Sap Vacuole:
Large and central. Surrounded by tonoplast. Contains concentrated
solution of stored sugars, salts, minerals and ions(in cell sap).
It helps to maintain turgor in the cell.
Vacuole membrane →Tonoplast
Animal cell→ Several temporary small
Plant cell→ 1 large permanent
● Mitochondria:
Function: Generates energy from glucose in the form of ATP
Site of aerobic respiration, cells with high rates of metabolism
will have significantly higher no. of Mitochondria than cells
with low no. of reaction taking place in them

● Ribosomes:
Function: Site of protein production in protein synthesis
Rough ER→ Rough endoplasmic reticulum (With ribosomes)
Smooth ER→ Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (Without ribosomes)
Make proteins to be used within the cytoplasm

● Vesicles:
Function: Used to safely transport substances from one part of
the cell to another

➔ Protoplasm:
Protos = first ; plasm = form
Cell membrane + cytoplasm + nucleus

➔ Prokaryote:
A cell without a distinct/ true nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles
Eg: Bacteria, Bacterial cells

➔ Eukaryote:
Cell with distinct/ true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
Eg: Plant and animal cells, Fungi, protist
➔ LEVEL OF ORGANISATION
Cell: Basic unit of structure & function in an organism.
↓
Tissue: A group of cells of the same type that perform. specific
function in organisms.
↓
Organ: Several types of tissue that carry out a particular
function.
↓
Organ System: Several organs working together to perform a
function
↓
Organisms: All the systems make up a multicellular organism
 ➔ SPECIALISED CELL
● Specialised cells are those which perform a specific function
These cells have adapted their structure to perform a specific
function.
● The process by which a cell becomes specialised is called
Differentiation.
● Different cells perform specific functions to get the organism
working as a whole.

Red Blood cells Their func on is to transport
oxygen from the lungs to all the
body cells, and carbon dioxide
from the body cells to the lungs.
They have a biconcave disc shape
that gives it a large surface area to
carry more oxygen.
They contain a chemical called
haemoglobin that combines with
oxygen and CO2
They have no nucleus to increase
surface area to carry more oxygen
and CO2
They are ny enough to squeeze
through capillaries.
Root hair cell Their func on is to
absorb water and minerals
from the soil. And to
anchor the plant in the
soil.
Xylem Vessels Conduc on of water through the
plant; support of the plant
Nerve Cell Conduc on of Impulses
to carry signals to transmit
information from brain to all
parts of the body
Sperm cell To deliver gene c info to egg cell
Egg cell( Ovum) connect with the sperm cell in
order to become fer lised and
produce offspring.
Palisade Mesophyll Photosynthesis
Root hair increases the surface area
of cells to ensure max. absorp on
of water and mineral ions
Walls are thin to ensure water
moves through quickly
No chloroplast present
Their func on is to transport
water and minerals from the
roots to the leaves. And to
provide mechanical support to
the plant.
Long so that nerves can run to &
from d/f parts of the body to the
nervous central system
The cell has extensions & branches
so that it can communicate with
other Nerve cells muscle & glands
Axon is covered with a fa y sheath,
which insulates nerve cell & speeds
up the nerve impulse
Tail to swim
Streamlined shape to allow easier
swimming
Pointed head to burrow into egg
Contains cytoplasm which has
nutrients for growth of embryo
Haploid nucleus contains the
gene c material for fer lisa on
Cell membrane changes a er
fer lisa on by a single sperm so
that no more sperm can enter
Contains many chloroplast for
maximum photosynthesis
are closely packed together to
maximize light absorp on.