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Different types of cells are found throughout the body. Each cell’s specialized shape and
structures help it perform specialized jobs. Groups of similar cells make up tissues, and
groupings of tissues make up organs.
Types of Cells and Their Work
Just as footballs, basketballs, and hockey pucks all have different shapes and different
purposes, so do different cells. Your body has about 200 different kinds of cells. A cell’s
shape is often specialized to fit its job. Also, many cells often have special structures
that help them in their work.
  Branching Cells
  The shape of nerve cells
makes them great for
communicating signals
between the brain and
the rest of the body. Their
great length helps these
signals reach the brain
quickly. A nerve cell’s
branching structure can
connect several parts of
the body at once.
  Flat Cells
  Flat cells, such as skin
cells, often join or overlap
to cover a surface. They
work something like the shingles on a building’s
roof. Your skin is built of many layers of flat cells, making it both strong and flexible. Flat cells are found lining many different parts
of the body. For example,
they line the surfaces of
the mouth and the stomach.
  Round Cells
  Red blood cells are
rounded discs with two
big dimples. Their job
is to carry oxygen to all
your cells. The smooth
shape of red blood cells
helps these cells move
easily through blood
vessels. This shape gives
extra surface area for
picking up and carrying
oxygen.
  The cells in the three pictures above are magnified many thousands of times.