Plants, like all living things, need water to survive. They absorb water, along with essential mineral ions, from the soil. This process happens in the roots, which have millions of microscopic, specialised cells perfectly designed for this job.

The cells responsible for absorption are called root hair cells. For your exam, it's vital to be precise: a root hair cell is a single, specialised cell found on the surface of a plant root. You should not confuse it with the entire root, which is a much larger plant organ.

Root hair cells have a key adaptation: a long, thin extension that looks like a hair. This structure dramatically increases the surface area of the cell. A larger surface area allows the plant to absorb water and minerals from the soil much more efficiently.