CELL MODIFICATIONS

SPECIALIZED FUNCTIONS

SPECIALIZED CELLS AND CELL Tight Junctions

STRUCTURES IN ANIMALS
Microvilli
- These increase the surface area for the
absorption of nutrients and other essential
substances from the gut cavity into the
underlying tissues and blood vessels.
- They are found in the small intestines, kidneys,
egg cells, and white blood cells.
Cilia and Stereocilia
- In the respiratory tract, cilia prevent mucus (from
goblet cells), bacteria, and dirt from entering the
lungs
- are responsible for movement and sensation
Cilia above the
pseudostratified
epithelia of the
trachea
- prevent leakage of solutes and water and seals
between the epithelial cells
Adherens Junctions
- built primarily from cadherins
- Protein complexes that occur at cell–cell
junctions in epithelial tissues; they are usually
more basal than tight junctions
- connect adjacent cells
Desmosomes
- connect adjacent cells
- responsible for fluid transport and attachment,
respectively
- Basal infoldings and hemidesmosomes are
responsible for fluid transport and attachment,
respectively
Gap Junctions
- serve as channels of ions, water and other
essential substances

Blood Cells and Sex Cells

Flagella
- Flagella are tail-like structures that provide
motility/locomotion to cells.
- Has a hairlike structure
Cell Junction
- Cell junctions are found in epithelial cells and
are mainly responsible for connecting adjacent
cells
- The lack of nucleus in red blood cells gives
more space for hemoglobin. Thus, more
oxygen molecules can be transported
- Red blood cells also lack mitochondria. They
generate their energy through anaerobic
respiration
- White blood cells are responsible for the
body’s defenses.
- Egg cells are the largest cells in the human
body and are necessary for sexual
reproduction

- Sperm cells travel from the testes to the

Egg cells have two outer membrane
female’s fallopian
layers, namely, tube
zona to facilitate
pellucida and an event
called
coronafertilization.
radiata.

Trichomes
CELL MODIFICATIONS
SPECIALIZED FUNCTIONS

- These are epidermal outgrowths responsible

for:
o preventing insect attacks
o shading leaves
o trapping insects.

Root Hairs
- Root hairs are tiny hair-like structures that
originated from the epidermis of plants.
- facilitates the absorption of water from the
substrate by increasing the surface area

Mesophyll Cells
- Mesophyll layer is primarily responsible for
photosynthesis
- central layer of plants that contains the
photosynthetic pigments and the chloroplasts

Xylem and Phloem

- Xylem and phloem tissues consist of
specialized cells that are responsible for
transporting essential substances, such as
water, minerals, and food needed by the
plants

Animals and plants have specialized cells and cell

structures that ultimately contribute to the growth,
development, and survival of the organism