Root Absorption

Key Stage 3

Meaning

Plants absorb minerals from the soil through their roots.

About Absorption by Roots

Nutrients are absorbed through the cell wall and cell membranes of root hair cells.

Root hair cells are specially adapted for the quickest possible rate of absorption:

• Long root hairs make a large surface area for absorption to happen.
• A thin cell wall means nutrients have to travel less far to be absorbed.

This picture shows a Root Hair Cell absorbing minerals (shown in red) through the root hair from the soil.