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Why Do Plant Cells Have a Regular Shape?

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Plants do not have skeletons to give them form. Plants rely on their cells to give them their form. Plant cells are regularly shaped and give plants rigidity. The cells do this through rigid cell walls, unlike the flexible cell walls in animals.

Definition

Cell walls are the area around the outside of the cell membrane in cells. These walls are visible under a microscope. They resemble a thick outline of the cell.

  • Plants do not have skeletons to give them form.
  • The cells do this through rigid cell walls, unlike the flexible cell walls in animals.

Significance

Plant cell walls contain cellulose, a structural carbohydrate. This is a common building chemical in plant cell walls. Cellulose is fibrous, does not dissolve in water and cannot be digested by humans.

Function

Rigid cell walls give the plant cells their regular shape. The cell wall is responsible for the cells’ architecture. The boundaries of the walls determine the shape and maintain the structure of the plant cells. Cell walls are designed to resist water pressure in the plant call.

  • Plant cell walls contain cellulose, a structural carbohydrate.
  • Rigid cell walls give the plant cells their regular shape.

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