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Additional functions of the cell wall include: Cellulose fibers, structural proteins, and other polysaccharides help to maintain the shape and form of the cell. Jeremy Burgess/Science Photo Library/Getty ImagesĪ major role of the cell wall is to form a framework for the cell to prevent over expansion. The cell wall appears as the thin layer between the cells and the nucleus is the prominent, round organelle with the smaller red nucleolus.ĭr. This micrograph image shows a plant cell and its internal organelles. Lignin strengthens the cell wall and aids in water conductivity in plant vascular tissue cells. In addition to cellulose and hemicellulose, some secondary cell walls contain lignin. This rigid layer strengthens and supports the cell.
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Once the primary cell wall has stopped dividing and growing, it may thicken to form a secondary cell wall. Secondary cell wall: This layer is formed between the primary cell wall and plasma membrane in some plant cells.The primary cell wall provides the strength and flexibility needed to allow for cell growth. It is primarily composed of cellulose microfibrils contained within a gel-like matrix of hemicellulose fibers and pectin polysaccharides. Primary cell wall: This layer is formed between the middle lamella and plasma membrane in growing plant cells.Pectins aid in cell adhesion by helping the cell walls of adjacent cells to bind to one another. Middle lamella: This outer cell wall layer contains polysaccharides called pectins.While all plant cells have a middle lamella and primary cell wall, not all have a secondary cell wall. From the outermost layer of the cell wall, these layers are identified as the middle lamella, primary cell wall, and secondary cell wall. The plant cell wall is multi-layered and consists of up to three sections. By LadyofHats (Own work), via Wikimedia Commons
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