Diversity In Animal Cells
Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)
Carry oxygen from lungs to respiring cells
Very small (7.5μm in diameter) – therefore high sa:v ratio
Biconcave shape increases sa:v
High sa:v ratio means oxygen can easily diffuse across the membrane and reach all
areas of the cell
Well developed cytoskeleton makes them flexible allowing them to fit through narrow
capillaries
Most organelles are lost during differentiation to free up space for haemoglobin
(including nucleus, mitochondria, ER, Golgi apparatus and a lot of cytoplasm)
Neutrophils
Most abundant type of phagocyte, a type of white blood cell (leukocyte)
Ingest invading pathogen by phagocytosis
12-15μm in diameter
Identifiable by multi-lobed nuclei
Travel to site of infection due to chemotaxis
Large number of lysosomes – die soon after ingesting a few pathogens and dead
neutrophils form pus around infection sites
Other forms of leukocyte exist such as macrophages, monocytes, and lymphocytes
Both red and white blood cells derive from stem cells in the bone marrow
Erythrocytes (Red Blood Cells)
Carry oxygen from lungs to respiring cells
Very small (7.5μm in diameter) – therefore high sa:v ratio
Biconcave shape increases sa:v
High sa:v ratio means oxygen can easily diffuse across the membrane and reach all
areas of the cell
Well developed cytoskeleton makes them flexible allowing them to fit through narrow
capillaries
Most organelles are lost during differentiation to free up space for haemoglobin
(including nucleus, mitochondria, ER, Golgi apparatus and a lot of cytoplasm)
Neutrophils
Most abundant type of phagocyte, a type of white blood cell (leukocyte)
Ingest invading pathogen by phagocytosis
12-15μm in diameter
Identifiable by multi-lobed nuclei
Travel to site of infection due to chemotaxis
Large number of lysosomes – die soon after ingesting a few pathogens and dead
neutrophils form pus around infection sites
Other forms of leukocyte exist such as macrophages, monocytes, and lymphocytes
Both red and white blood cells derive from stem cells in the bone marrow
