AQA GCSE Biology

Specialised animal cells

AQA GCSE Biology revision on Specialised animal cells. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Biology 8461 specification. This bank has 25 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 25)

Question 1

Which component allows a sperm cell to penetrate the outer layer of an egg cell?
- A) The flagellum tail
- B) The acrosome head
- C) The midpiece area
- D) The nucleus centre
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Answer: The acrosome head

The acrosome is a specialised vesicle located at the tip of the sperm head. It contains digestive enzymes that are released upon contact with the egg, allowing the sperm to penetrate the jelly coat and fertilise the cell.
Question 2

Which structural feature is most critical for the function of a nerve cell in transmitting impulses?
- A) Large surface area
- B) Long axon pathway
- C) Many mitochondria
- D) Dense cytoplasm
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Answer: Long axon pathway

Nerve cells are elongated to ensure that electrical impulses can travel quickly between different parts of the body. While mitochondria provide energy, the defining structural adaptation for relaying signals over distance is the extended length of the axon.
Question 3

What is the primary function of the many mitochondria found in muscle cells?
- A) To store glucose
- B) To release energy
- C) To build proteins
- D) To create glucose
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Answer: To release energy

Muscle cells require significant amounts of energy to contract and relax efficiently. Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, which releases the energy necessary for the filaments within muscle fibres to slide past one another.

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Sample questions (3 of 25)

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