Tissues
Introduction
Plants
Overview
Stationary and fixed, don't move
Abundant supportive tissue with dead cells
Limited growth regions, including meristematic and permanent tissue
Localized and less specialized organ systems
Adapted for sedentary existence
Primary mode of life: photosynthesis
Plant Tissues
Often contain supportive tissues with dead cells, like sclerenchyma and
xylem, for structural support.
Growth is localized to specific regions with meristematic (dividing) and
permanent (non-dividing) tissues.
Cells have rigid cell walls made of cellulose.
Chloroplasts are present for photosynthesis.
May have large vacuoles for water and substance storage.
Lysosomes are often absent or limited.
Centrioles are absent; not found in plant tissues.
Animals
Overview
Mobile, actively search for food, mates, and shelter
Most tissues are composed of living cells
Uniform cell growth, no specific dividing regions
Highly specialized and localized organ systems
Adapted for active locomotion
Primary mode of life: heterotrophic (consuming other organisms)
Animal Tissues
Composed of living cells without specialized supportive tissues with dead
cells.
Cell growth tends to be more uniform without clear dividing and non-
dividing regions.
Cells have flexible cell membranes but lack rigid cell walls.
Do not contain chloroplasts; rely on external food sources.
Typically lack large vacuoles for storage purposes.
Commonly contain lysosomes for waste material breakdown.
Some animal tissues have centrioles, which are involved in cell division.
PLANT TISSUES
Meristematic Tissue
Overview
Meristematic tissues are regions of active cell division in plants.
Classified into three types: Apical, Lateral (Cambium), and Intercalary
meristem.
Apical meristem is found at the tips of stems and roots, responsible for
lengthening them.
Lateral meristem (cambium) contributes to the growth in girth (diameter)
of stems and roots.
Intercalary meristem is located near nodes and aids in regeneration.
Characteristics of meristematic cells:
Highly active with rapid cell division.
Dense cytoplasm, thin cellulose walls, and prominent nuclei.
Lack vacuoles.
Why Meristematic Cells Lack Vacuoles:
Vacuoles typically serve various functions in mature plant cells:
Storage of water, nutrients, and waste products.
Maintaining turgor pressure to support cell structure.
Storage of pigments, toxins, and secondary metabolites.
Meristematic cells have a primary function of rapid cell division and
differentiation.
Vacuoles take up space and may hinder rapid cell division.
Dense cytoplasm and prominent nuclei in meristematic cells provide
essential components for division and growth.
As cells mature and differentiate into various tissues, vacuoles may
develop to fulfill specialized functions in those tissues.
Permanent tissue
Simple Permanent Tissue
Parenchyma
Type of Permanent Tissue: Parenchyma is a type of simple permanent
tissue.
Cell Wall: Parenchyma cells have relatively thin cell walls.
Cell Arrangement: These cells are usually loosely arranged with large
intercellular spaces.
Cell Status: Parenchyma cells are living cells.
Functions: Parenchyma tissue generally stores food. In some cases, it
contains chlorophyll and performs photosynthesis, known as
chlorenchyma. In aquatic plants, it may have large air cavities
(aerenchyma) to aid in floating.
Location: Parenchyma is found in various parts of plants.
Collenchyma
Type of Permanent Tissue: Collenchyma is another type of permanent
tissue.
Cell Wall: Collenchyma cells have irregularly thickened cell walls,
especially at the corners.
Cell Arrangement: Collenchyma cells are elongated and closely packed
with little intercellular space.
Cell Status: Collenchyma cells are living cells.
Functions: Collenchyma provides mechanical support and flexibility to
plant parts. It can be found in leaf stalks below the epidermis.
Location: Typically located below the epidermis in various plant parts.
Sclerenchyma
Type of Permanent Tissue: Sclerenchyma is also a type of permanent
tissue.
Cell Wall: Sclerenchyma cells have thickened cell walls due to lignin,
making them rigid and hard.
Cell Arrangement: Sclerenchyma cells are long, narrow, and have thick
walls, often with no internal space.
Cell Status: Sclerenchyma cells are dead cells.
Functions: Sclerenchyma provides strength and rigidity to plant parts.
It makes plant structures hard and stiff.
Location: Sclerenchyma is present in various plant parts, including
stems, around vascular bundles, veins of leaves, and hard coverings of
seeds and nuts
Protective tissues
Epidermal Tissue
Outermost layer of plant surfaces.
Consists of a single layer of cells.
Provides protection against water loss, mechanical injury, and
fungal invasion.
Often secretes a waxy, water-resistant layer.
Continuous layer without intercellular spaces.
Contains stomata for gas exchange and transpiration.
Root epidermal cells may have hair-like structures for water
absorption.
Some desert plants have a thick cutin layer on their epidermis for
waterproofing
Cork
Outer protective tissue changes as plants age.
Secondary meristem in cortex forms cork.
Cork cells are dead and tightly packed with no intercellular spaces.
Contain suberin in cell walls, making them gas impermeable.
Complex Permanent Tissue
Composed of more than one type of cells.
Cells in complex tissues work together to perform a common function.
Examples include xylem and phloem
Xylem
Components:
Tracheids
Vessels
Xylem parenchyma
Xylem fibers
Characteristics:
Tracheids and vessels have thick walls.
Many xylem cells are dead when mature.
Tracheids and vessels are tubular structures for vertical water
and mineral transport.
Xylem parenchyma stores food and is the only living component
Xylem fibers provide support.
Phloem
Components
Sieve cells
Sieve tubes
Companion cells
Phloem fibers
Phloem parenchyma
Charecteristics
Sieve tubes are tubular cells with perforated walls.
Phloem transports food from leaves to other plant parts.
Except for phloem fibers, other phloem cells are living cells.
Vascular Bundle
Xylem and phloem together in a vascular bundle.
Vascular tissue is crucial for the survival of complex plants in
terrestrial environments
ANIMAL TISSUES
Types of Animal Tissues
Epithelial tissue: Covers and protects body surfaces.
Characteristics of Epithelial Tissues:
Primary covering and protective tissues in the animal body.
Found in most organs and cavities.
Forms a barrier to separate different body systems.
Cells are tightly packed, with minimal intercellular spaces.
Permeability of epithelial cells regulates material exchange.
Separated from underlying tissue by a basement membrane.
Types of Epithelial Tissues
Simple Squamous Epithelium:
Extremely thin and flat cells.
Found in blood vessels, lung alveoli, esophagus, mouth, and skin.
Stratified Squamous Epithelium
Multiple layers of squamous cells.
Found in the skin for protection against wear and tear.
Columnar Epithelium
Tall, pillar-like cells.
Present in the inner lining of the intestine and respiratory tract.
Ciliated columnar epithelium in the respiratory tract has moving cilia
to clear mucus
Cuboidal Epithelium
Cube-shaped cells.
Forms the lining of kidney tubules and salivary gland ducts.
Provides mechanical support
Glandular Epithelium
Specialized for secretion.
May form multicellular glands when portions fold inward
found in secretory portions of glands, sweat glands of the skin,
endocrine glands etc..
Connective tissue: Supports and connects body parts (e.g., blood).
Overview
Connective tissue is so named because it connects and supports
various structures in the body.
It consists of loosely spaced cells embedded in an intercellular matrix.
The nature of the matrix varies based on the tissue's function
Blood
Connective tissue with a fluid matrix called plasma.
Components include red blood corpuscles (RBCs), white blood
corpuscles (WBCs), platelets, proteins, salts, and hormones.
Blood Functions
Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to cells.
It transports waste products to the liver and kidneys for disposal.
Immune Defense: White blood cells fight infections and diseases.
Temperature Regulation: Blood helps maintain body temperature.
Fluid Balance: It regulates hydration and electrolytes.
Clotting: Blood prevents excessive bleeding and transports
hormones.
Bone
Advantageous properties: Stability and structural support
Strong and nonflexible due to a hard matrix of calcium and phosphorus
compounds.
Provides support, anchors muscles, and supports organs.
Ligament
Elastic connective tissue connecting bones to bones.
High strength, limited matrix.
Function: Provides flexibility while maintaining joint stability.
Tendon
Fibrous connective tissue connecting muscles to bones.
High strength, limited flexibility.
Function: Transmit forces from muscles to bones for movement.
Cartilage
Contains widely spaced cells within a solid matrix of proteins and
sugars.
Smoothes bone surfaces at joints and present in the nose, ear, trachea,
and larynx.
Comparison with bone: Cartilage is flexible, unlike bones
Areolar Connective Tissue
Found between the skin and muscles, around blood vessels and
nerves, and in the bone marrow.
Fills spaces inside organs, supports internal organs, and aids in tissue
repair.
Adipose Tissue (Fat Storage)
Stores fat below the skin and between internal organs.
Adipose cells are filled with fat globules.
Acts as an insulator in addition to energy storage
Muscular tissue: Contracts and enables movement (e.g., chest muscles
during breathing).
Skeletal Tissues
Composed of elongated cells known as muscle fibers.
Responsible for body movement.
Contain contractile proteins that cause contraction and relaxation.
Often attached to bones, aiding in voluntary movements.
Appear striated (alternate light and dark bands) under a microscope.
Cells are long, cylindrical, unbranched, and multinucleate.
Smooth Muscles (Involuntary Muscles)
Control involuntary movements, e.g., food in the alimentary canal,
blood vessel contraction.
Also found in the iris, ureters, and bronchi.
Cells are long and spindle-shaped, with a single nucleus.
Referred to as unstriated muscles due to their lack of striations.
Cardiac Muscles
Responsible for rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart.
Involuntary in nature.
Cells are cylindrical, branched, and have a single nucleus
Nervous tissue: Transmits signals for communication
Cells in the nervous tissue are specialized for rapid response to stimuli.
Nervous tissue comprises the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
The primary cells in nervous tissue are neurons or nerve cells.
Neurons consist of a cell body with a nucleus and cytoplasm.
Neurons have long axons and many short, branched dendrites.
Neurons can be quite long, up to a meter in length.
Nerves are formed by many nerve fibers bound together with connective
tissue.
Nerve impulses are the signals that travel along nerve fibers.
Nerve impulses enable muscle movement and rapid responses to stimuli.
The combination of nerve and muscle tissue is crucial for animal
movement.