parenchyma
Americannoun
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Botany. the fundamental tissue of plants, composed of thin-walled cells able to divide.
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Anatomy, Zoology. the specific tissue of an animal organ as distinguished from its connective or supporting tissue.
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Zoology. a type of soft, spongy connective tissue of certain invertebrates, as the flatworms.
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Pathology. the functional tissue of a morbid growth.
noun
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unspecialized plant tissue consisting of simple thin-walled cells with intervening air spaces: constitutes the greater part of fruits, stems, roots, etc
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animal tissue that constitutes the essential or specialized part of an organ as distinct from the blood vessels, connective tissue, etc, associated with it
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loosely-packed tissue filling the spaces between the organs in lower animals such as flatworms
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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.
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Compare collenchyma sclerenchyma
Other Word Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Student D observed that parenchyma cells were the most abundant.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Xylem tissue has three types of cells: xylem parenchyma, tracheids, and vessel elements.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
The tissue consists of conducting cells, known as tracheids, and supportive filler tissue, called parenchyma.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
The lower part of the mesophyll is made up of loosely packed spongy parenchyma.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
The exudations may be superficial or deep-seated; they may lie within the cells, parenchyma, of an organ, or within the interstitial tissue of the same.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
