We are familiar that all living organisms consist of cells. We also know that the cell is the basic and smallest unit of life. They are responsible for carrying out important biological functions inside of bodies. Not only this, it helps in giving structure and functions to all the parts of the body. However, not all cells are the same. While animals and human beings are made up of animal cells, plants are made up of plant cells. Let us learn more about the nature and significance of animal cells. But first, what do you understand about an animal cell?
What is an animal cell?
As the name suggests, animal cells are associated with the living beings that come under the Animal Kingdom, including human beings. It implies that all the animal tissues are made up of these particular cells.
An animal cell is a type of eukaryotic cell that lacks a cell wall and has a true, membrane-bound nucleus along with other cellular organelles.
Just like plant cells, they comprise cell organelles like mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, golgi bodies, ribosomes, etc. However, animal cells distinguish themselves from plant cells in having no cell wall. It means animal cells are contained inside a cell membrane.
The peculiarities of an animal cell are-
- They are eukaryotic cells, i.e., they have a membrane-bound nucleus and other cell organelles.
- Each cell organelle has some specific function.
- Animal cells do not have a cell wall.
- Animal cells do not have chloroplasts, a cell organelle responsible for carrying out photosynthesis.
- The shape and structure of most animal cells vary.
If you are interested in knowing more about the animal cell, keep reading below to find out interesting facts. |
This chapter animal cell is important for all those students who are preparing for CBSE Term 2 exams.
What are the functions of an animal cell?
As students of biology, we know that a living cell carries out all the biological functions inside the body, which also includes energy production and transportation of genetic material. Like a normal cell, animal cells also carry out significant bodily functions needed by an organism to sustain life.
Different parts of the human body are made above different types of animal cells. For example, the lining of the gut, the heart, skin, hair, etc. They are all made up of different types of animal cells. Moreover, all the types of animal cells carry out their specific functions.
Some significant animal cells that carry out specific functions are-
- Neurons or neural cells help in conducting nerve impulse.
- The epithelial cells of the skin protects the skin from external damage.
- Nephron cells are the building blocks of the kidney that help in its function.
- Muscle cells, known as myocytes and bone cells known as osteocytes, provide structure and strength to the body.
- There are cells inside the body that produce hormones that are highly reactive chemicals used to function.
Do you know that multiple cells form tissues, and these tissues combine to form an organ? Further, organs combine to make up an organ system, and an organ system comes together to create a human body. |
Now that we know the functions of most animal cells, are you curious about the structure of the inside of an animal cell? Do not worry! We have covered it up for you! |
Explain the structure of an animal cell
Before we understand the structure of an animal cell, it is informative to know that not all animal cells look alike. It means that there are different types of animal cells that have other structures and functions. However, there are still some common factors that are uniform throughout one particular type of animal cell.
Do you know! Neurons do not have a centrosome. Thus, they do not undergo cell division. |
A typical animal cell contains the following components or cell organelles-
- Cell/plasma membrane
- Cytoplasm
- Nucleus
- Mitochondria
- Ribosomes
- Lysosomes
- Golgi bodies
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Centrosome
You might have noticed that the above cell components do not consist of chloroplast, cell wall, vacuoles, and plastids. It is because these components are uniquely associated with plant cells only. |
Nature and significance of parts of animal cells
To entirely understand the function and significance of an animal cell, we need to comprehend the details of its components.
The plasma membrane acts as a fence around the cells that protects them from their surroundings. This membrane is semi-permeable in nature. This means that it only allows selective material to pass through it and enter the cell.
The cell membrane is a thin phospholipid bilayer that also controls what molecules or entities can go out of the cell.
The cytoplasm is referred to as a jellylike pool that contains the parts of a cell, otherwise known as organelles. All the components of an animal cell are suspended within the cytoplasm, which is enclosed by the plasma membrane.
The cytoplasm is known to maintain the shape of the cell and helps in strengthening its cytoskeleton.
The nucleus is referred to as the brain of the cell. It is an important organelle because it directs the activities of all the other organelles of the cell. The nucleus is bound by a nuclear membrane which prevents the genetic material from flowing freely throughout the cytoplasm.
Apart from this nucleus contains nucleolus, nucleosomes, and chromatin fibre. These components together form the genetic material, which in turn forms chromosomes. Along with retaining the cells’ genetic information, the nucleus also regulates the growth and cell division of that particular cell.
Mitochondria is a double membrane structure that is also known as the powerhouse of the cell.
The main function of mitochondria is to produce and release energy in the form of ATP. It does this by controlling aerobic respiration by utilising the nutrients and other biochemical substances inside the cell. The various reactions that take place inside this cell organelle result in the production of energy. This energy is then used for several processes within the animal cell.
Ribosomes are the protein manufacturing department of the cell. They are small structures that are found either floating in the cytoplasm or attached to the endoplasmic reticulum.
They are the site for protein synthesis and are thereby involved in the translation and production of proteins.
- Lysosomes
The lysosome is the cell organelle that is responsible for the waste disposal of the cell. They are round in shape and surrounded by a membrane.
These cell structures contain digestive enzymes that help in digesting and getting rid of old proteins. Not only the protein but also the non-working parts of the cell are removed by lysosomal action.
- Golgi bodies
It is a sac-like cell organelle located near the nucleus. It is involved in the manufacture, storage, package, and transportation of the materials throughout the animal cell.
For instance, the Golgi apparatus stores proteins and lipid processed by the endoplasmic reticulum To be later distributed within the cell.
- Endoplasmic reticulum
The endoplasmic reticulum is a cell organelle that is found with the continuation of the nuclear membrane. It is a network of membranous sacs and involves the production of proteins.
Two types of endoplasmic reticulum are found inside the cell- Smooth ER and Rough ER. While the SER is involved with the synthesis of lipids and steroid hormones, the RER plays an important role in the production of proteins for the animal cell.
- Centrosome
The centrosome is a cell organelle that is found only in animal cells. It is a small structure that is located near the nucleus.
The structure of a centrosome is characterised by radiating tubules which are responsible for the onset of cell division.
Are you aware of how many different functions are performed by specific animal cells inside of our bodies? If not, keep reading to find out. |
What is the importance of animal cells?
Animal cells are the basic functions and structural units that make up the animal tissues and organs. The importance of animal cells for a living organism can be explained in the following ways-
- Different types of animal cells perform different jobs.
- These cells provide strength and stability to the animal tissues.
- Animal cells protect and anchor the cell organelles inside it.
- RBCs, which is a type of animal cell, carries oxygen to various other cells of the body.
- There are specialised animal cells that carry hormones and enzymes to the particular parts of the body.
- Animal cells like WBCs and lymphocytes have a significant role in cell signalling and immunity development.
Do you know what a group of cells that contribute to a common goal are called? They’re called tissues. Animal cells also form different types of animal tissues that have different functions. |
Types of animal tissues
- Epithelial tissue
- It is the most basic type of animal tissue.
- It covers body surfaces and forms the lining of body cavities.
- There are three types of epithelium tissues that occur inside animal bodies
– Squamous epithelium (flat)
– Cuboidal epithelium (cube-shaped)
– Columnar epithelium (elongated cells)
- Epithelial cells are also responsible for the secretion of a product.
- Connective tissue
- Connective tissues serve many purposes like binding, protecting, supporting, forming blood, filling space, and storing fats.
- There are two types of connective tissue- Loose connective tissue (LCT) and Fibrous connective tissue (FCT).
- Red blood cells and white blood cells are common examples of connective tissues.
- Muscle tissue
- Muscle cells form muscle tissue.
- These tissues facilitate the contraction and relaxation of muscle fibre.
- There are three types of muscle fibres found in animals-
-skeletal
-smooth
-cardiac
- Each muscle cell is multinucleated, which means more than one nuclei are present inside it.
- Nervous tissue
- Neural cells from nervous tissues.
- These tissues form and are a part of the central and peripheral nervous system.
- These tissues form the spinal cord and the brain.
- That was tissues have two main types of cells-
-Nerve cells
-Glial cells
- Neurons are responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses to distinct parts of the body.
Are you still confused about animal cells? Well, we have covered it up for you! Just go through the FAQs below to understand more about animal cells. |
FAQs about Animal Cell
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- What is the simple definition of an animal cell?