Your body is made of trillions of cells, but they're not all the same. Here are eight of the most distinctive.
Neuron
Neurons carry electrical signals between your brain and your body. They have long branches that reach out and connect to other neurons.
Red blood cell
Red blood cells pick up oxygen in your lungs and deliver it to every part of your body. They are shaped like tiny discs with a dip in the middle.
Lung cell
Deep inside your lungs are tiny air sacs called alveoli, shaped like balloons. Lung cells line these sacs, where the oxygen you breathe in passes into your blood.
Muscle cell
Muscle cells are long fibres that can expand and contract. They are what make us strong. They let us walk, jump, and lift heavy things.
White blood cell
White blood cells protect your body. They travel through your blood looking for bacteria and other things that don't belong, and fight them.
Skin cell
Skin cells are flat and tightly packed in layers. New ones form at the bottom and move up to the surface, replacing old ones that fall away.
Bone cell
Some bone cells build new bone, others break old bone down. Together they keep your bones strong and growing.
Gut cell
Gut cells line your intestine. They are covered in tiny finger-like projections called villi that absorb nutrients from the food you eat.
