Part 01 · Cells · Card 7 of 12
Cell wall
A stiff outer layer made of cellulose found in plant cells. It supports and protects the cell.
Last updated
Analogy
A strong cardboard box around a soft sponge.
In practice
Cell walls help a plant stay upright. Animal cells do not have them.
Practice
Flashcards
- Which three parts do plant cells have that animal cells do not?A cell wall, chloroplasts and a permanent vacuole.
Interview questions
- Describe three differences between an animal cell and a plant cell.
- Plant cells have a cell wall made of cellulose
- Plant cells have chloroplasts for photosynthesis
- Plant cells have a permanent vacuole
- Animal cells have none of these
Questions people ask
What is the cell wall made of?
In plant cells the wall is made mainly of cellulose, a tough material built from long chains of glucose. The fibres are strong, so the wall resists being squashed or stretched. Fungi also have cell walls, but theirs are made of a different substance called chitin.
Can water pass through a plant cell wall?
Yes. The cell wall is fully permeable, so water and dissolved substances pass through it easily. The partially permeable cell membrane just inside the wall is what controls entry. The wall stops the cell bursting when it takes in too much water.