Question

Identify part F and explain its function. Why does the same structure not appear in the cell on the left?

Answer 1

Answer : The structure labelled F is a central vacuole. It performs the following functions in a plant cell -

1. It accumulates the waste product generated by plant cell.

2. It maintains the shape and turgidity of a plant cell.

Since, the animal cells lack a cell wall the turgid pressure maintained by the central vacuole would cause the animal cell to burst. Thus, the animal cells lack a central vacuole as they do not need to maintain a high turgid pressure provided by the vacuole.

Explanation:

• Most of the mature plant cells have a single large vacuole which can occupy upto 80% of the cell’s volume.

• The vacuole is surrounded by a membrane called as tonoplast.

• One of the main functions of the vacuole is to maintain turgor pressure in the plant cell.

• The turgor pressure is exerted against the cell wall and is important to maintain the cell shape, for cell elongation and keep the chloroplast closer to light by exerting pressure on the cell organelles and pushing them towards the periphery.