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

• interparenchymal
  adjective
• parenchymal
  adjective
• parenchymatous
  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

Xylem tissue has three types of cells: xylem parenchyma, tracheids, and vessel elements.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Student D observed that parenchyma cells were the most abundant.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In aquatic plants, the intercellular spaces in the spongy parenchyma help the leaf float.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The parenchyma cells that make up the cortex are the largest in the root.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

A section at this period closely resembles one of an adult sponge, except that the structure is more compact, the parenchyma being relatively bulky and the canals of small diameter.

From Freshwater Sponges, Hydroids & Polyzoa by Annandale, Nelson