Animal cells

Animal cells are the cells that make up the bodies of animals (including humans), and they are built to be flexible and specialised for different jobs.

• No cell wall: Unlike plant and fungal cells, animal cells do not have a rigid cell wall. They have only a cell membrane, which is thin and flexible—this helps animal cells change shape when needed.
• Shape can vary a lot: Because there is no hard wall, animal cells can be round, flat, long, or irregular. For example, red blood cells are shaped to carry oxygen efficiently, and nerve cells are long to carry messages quickly.
• Vacuoles are small or absent: Plant cells usually have one large vacuole for storage and support, but in animal cells vacuoles are often tiny and temporary (used for storing or transporting materials).
• Common parts are still present: Animal cells still have the main basic parts—cell membrane (controls what enters and leaves), cytoplasm (where many reactions happen), and a nucleus (controls the cell and contains genetic material).
• How animal bodies work: Animal cells become highly specialised and work together—muscle cells help in movement, skin cells protect the body, and white blood cells help fight infection.

So, an animal cell is a flexible, living building block of an animal’s body, designed more for movement and specialised functions than for rigid support.