parenchyma

American  

[puh-reng-kuh-muh] / pəˈrɛŋ kə mə /

noun

1. Botany. the fundamental tissue of plants, composed of thin-walled cells able to divide.

2. Anatomy, Zoology. the specific tissue of an animal organ as distinguished from its connective or supporting tissue.

3. Zoology. a type of soft, spongy connective tissue of certain invertebrates, as the flatworms.

4. Pathology. the functional tissue of a morbid growth.

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parenchyma British  

/ ˌpærɛŋˈkɪmətəs, pəˈrɛŋkɪmə /

noun

1. unspecialized plant tissue consisting of simple thin-walled cells with intervening air spaces: constitutes the greater part of fruits, stems, roots, etc

2. animal tissue that constitutes the essential or specialized part of an organ as distinct from the blood vessels, connective tissue, etc, associated with it

3. loosely-packed tissue filling the spaces between the organs in lower animals such as flatworms

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parenchyma Scientific  

/ pə-rĕng′kə-mə /

1. The basic tissue of plants, consisting of cells with thin cellulose walls. The cortex and pith of the stem, the internal layers of leaves, and the soft parts of fruits are made of parenchyma. In contrast to sclerenchyma cells, parenchyma cells remain alive at maturity. They perform various functions, such as water storage, replacement of damaged tissue, and physical support of plant structures. Chloroplasts, the organelles in which photosynthesis takes place, are found in parenchyma cells.

2. Compare collenchyma sclerenchyma

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• parenchymatous
  adjective
• interparenchymal
  adjective
• parenchymal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of parenchyma

1645–55; < New Latin < Greek parénchyma literally, something poured in beside, equivalent to par- par- + énchyma infusion; see en- ², chyme

Example Sentences

Parenchyma cells are responsible for metabolic functions, such as photosynthesis, and they help repair and heal wounds.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Parenchyma would show the presence of labeled minerals and sclerenchyma would show the presence of radioactive sucrose.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

All such soft cellular tissue, like this of leaves, that of pith, and of the green bark, is called Parenchyma, while fibrous and woody parts are composed of Prosenchyma, that is, of peculiarly transformed 407.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

Parenchyma is composed of vertical groups of short cells, the end ones of each group tapering to a point, and each group originates from the transverse division of one cambium cell.

From Wood and Forest by Noyes, William

Parenchyma, pa-reng′ki-m�, n. the soft cellular tissue of glandular and other organs, as the pith in plants or the pulp in fruits.—adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various