Living tissues Biology

01
Biology

Living tissues

You have studied about tissues as one of the organizational levels of multicellular
organisms in grade 10. You will learn more about tissues in this chapter.

1.1 Plant tissues

Let's do the activity 1.1 to study about plant tissues.

Activity 1.1
Materials required :- Thin peel of lower epidermis of betel leaf, thin section
of a potato tuber, thin cross section of a stem of a plant like Balsam.
Method :- ² Prepare temporary slides using above plant materials.
² Observe them under microscope.
² Try to identify tissues formed by cells with the help of
your teacher.

Figure. 1.1 - View of different plant tissues under optical microscope

You may have observed that plant tissues are of different forms. Animal tissues are
also of different forms. It is observable that different cell types are present in living
beings and similar cells are arranged together.
A group of cells with a common origin that has been modified to perform
particular functions in the body is known as a tissue.

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² Classification of plant tissues
Let's do the activity 1.2 to study further about how tissues are oraganized in plant
organs.

Activity - 1.2
Materials required :- Prop root of Banion/ Stilt root of Pandanus/ Stilt root
of Rampe.
Method :-
² Observe the external view of the growing
tips of above roots.
² Use a hand lens to observe them.

Figure 1.2 - External view of a root

We can identify the nature of a growing root from the above observation. Growing
part is soft and light coloured. Mature part is rough and dark coloured. This is
because of the nature of tissues.
Figure 1.3 shows the microscopic view of longitudinal section of such a root.

It is observed that region A-A' has cells with the

ability of cell division. Region B-B' contain
different cell types that are different in nature
from cells in region A-A'.
B B'
Plant tissues can be categorised using different
criteria. Plant tissues can be divided into two
groups according to the ability of cell division.
A A' ² Meristematic tissues

š
² Permanent tissues
Root cap
Permanent tissues can be found in region B-B'
Figure 1.3 - Microscopic view of
and Meristematic tissues in region A-A' as
longitudinal section of root apex shown in figure 1.3.

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1.1.1 Meristematic tissues

The tissues with cells that divide actively by mitosis to produce new cells are called
meristematic tissues. These cells are not differentiated. The growth of plants takes
place due to activity of meristematic tissues.
Features of meristematic tissues
² This tissue consists of small sized living cells
² No intercellular spaces or intercellular spaces are not prominent
² There is a distinct nucleus in each cell
² Absence of large central vacuole but small vacuoles may be present
² Absence of chloroplasts
² Large number of mitochondria are present

Meristematic tissues are present in specific locations of the plant. They are of three
types.

Apical meristems
Apical Meristems Apical meristems are found in shoot apex,
root apex and axillary buds. Plant increases its
Intercalary meristems height due to the activity of this tissue.
Intercalary meristems
Intercalary meristems are found at nodes. The
length of internode increases due to the activity
of the above tissue. They are found in plants of
Lateral Meristems grass family.
Lateral meristems
A B Lateral meristems are present laterally in the
Figure 1.4 - Locations of meristematic stem and roots of plant. They are found parallel
tissues to the longitudinal axis of plant. The diameter
of the plant increases due to the activity of this
tissue. Cambium tissue found in dicots is a
lateral meristematic tissue.

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1.1.2 Permanent tissues
Do the activity 1.3 to identify different types of tissues of plant stem.
Activity -- 1'3
Materials required :- Pumpkin / Tridex plant stem, A glass slide,
A microscope
Method :-
² Observe the cross section of above plant stem using a microscope
² Identify the different tissue types present in them

Figure 1.5 - Microscopic view of cross section of dicot stem

A tissue that lost its ability to divide and specialized to perform a particular function
is known as a permanent tissue.
According to the nature of the permanent tissues, it can be grouped into two.

² Simple Permanent tissues - One type of cells collected together

² Complex Permanent tissues - Different types of cells collected together

² Simple permanent tissues

The tissue is composed of similar cells. According to the shape of cell and the nature
of cell wall, three types of simple permanent tissues as parenchyma, collenchyma
and sclerenchyma can be identified in plants (Figure 1.6).

Parenchyma Collenchyma Sclerenchyma

Figure 1.6 - Simple permanent tissue types

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Parenchyma
The tissue that forms the soft parts of the plant body is the parenchyma tissue. This
is the most abundant tissue found in the plant.
Features of Parenchyma tissue
Intercellular space ² Parenchyma tissue consists
of living cells.
Nucleus
² Cells are isodiametric
Thin peripheral layer of (spherical) with a large
cytoplasm Nucleus
central vacuole.
Vacuole
² Nucleus is present
Large central vacuole
peripherally in the cytoplasm.
Thin primary ² The cell wall is thin and made
cellulose wall up of cellulose.
² Intercellular spaces are
present.
Intercellular space

Cross section of parenchyma Longitudinal section of parenchyma

Figure 1.7 - Parenchyma tissues
Locations of parenchyma tissues
² Cortex and pith of plant stem ² Pith and cortex of roots
² Fleshy parts of fruits ² Seeds (endosperm)
² Leaves (mesophylls)
Functions of parenchyma
² Photosynthesis - Palisade and spongy mesophylls in plant leaves contain
chlorophyll within chloroplasts. Photosynthesis takes
place within these chloroplasts.
² Food storage - Food is stored in some parenchyma tissues and they are
called as storage tissues.
E.g. : Potato tuber, Carrot and Sweet potato roots,
Papaw and Banana fruits.
² Storage of water - Specially xerophytic plants store water in Parenchyma
tissue.
E.g. : Aloe leaves, Bryophyllum leaves, Cactus cladode
² Providing support - Herbaceous plants like Balsam absorb water into
vacuoles of the parenchyma cells. Thereby cells
become turgid and provide mechanical support to the
plant.
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Collenchyma
Collenchyma tissue provides mechanical strength and support to the plant body.
They are modified parenchyma cells.

Thickend corners of the

cell wall

Nucleus
Cross section of a
collenchyma tissue Longitudinal section of a
collenchyma tissue
Figure 1.8 - Collenchyma tissue

Features of collenchyma tissue

² Collenchyma tissue consists of living cells.
² Cells possess a cytoplasm, nucleus and central vacuole.
² Generally cells are elongated and polygonal in cross section.
² The corners of the cell walls are thickened.
² Intercellular spaces may present or may not present.

Locations of collenchyma
The collenchyma forms a cylindrical tissue inner to the epidermis of herbaceous
stems. They are found in the veins of dicot leaves.

Functions of collenchyma
1' Support - Collenchyma provides mechanical support to dicot plant
stem, before the formation of wood. (Provides mechanical
support to herbs)
This tissue provides support to the plant leaves by the
collenchyma in veins.

2' Photosynthesis - Chloroplasts are found in the collenchyma of immature

dicot stems. Photosynthesis is carried out by those cells.

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Sclerenchyma

Lumen

Lignifed
cell walls

Pit

sclereid

Cross section of fibers Longitudinal section of sclerenchyma

tissue
Figure 1.9 - Sclerenchyma tissue
Sclerenchyma tissue helps in providing mechanical strength and support to the
plant body. This tissue has two types of cells as sclereids and sclerenchyma fibres.

Features of sclerenchyma tissue

² Sclerenchyma tissue consists of dead cells.
² Lignin is deposited on the cellulose cell wall.
² Cells are tightly packed. Therefore, no intercellular spaces.
² Cell wall is evenly thickened and forms a central lumen.

Locations of sclerenchyma tissue

Fibres present in xylem are called as xylem fibres and in phloem as phloem fibres.
Other than above, coconut fibres, agave fibres and cotton wool are made up of
fibres (sclerenchyma)

Selereids are found in endocarp of coconut, Kaduru and mango fruits, the pericarp
of guava fruit and in pear fruit and seed coat of coffee and dates.

Functions of sclerenchyma
² Provide support to the plant body

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² Complex permanent tissues
Different types of cells together form a complex permanent tissue. Two complex
permanent tissues as xylem and phloem can be identified in plants (Figure 1.10).

phloem Xylem and phloem are found in

vascular systems of root, stem and
leaves of the plant.
Xylem

Figure. 1.10 - Complex permanent tissue

Xylem tissue

Parenchyma
Xylem
fibre
Tracheids

Vessel element

Vessels Tracheids Xylem Xylem

parenchyma fibre
Figure 1.11 - Xylem tissue
This tissue is composed of four different types of cells.
² Xylem vessel element
² Tracheids
² Fibres
² Parenchyma cells

Xylem vessel elements are cylindrical elongated cells. Xylem vessel element
stack on top of the others and the cross walls are dissolved to form a continuous
xylem vessel. This tubular structure helps in transportation of water in plants.
Tracheids are elongated, spindle shaped cells. They also help in transportation
of water. Xylem fibers are narrower and shorter than tracheids. Xylem vessels,
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tracheids and xylem fibers become dead due to lignification of cell walls. They
provide support to the xylem tissue. Xylem parenchyma are living cells with a
thin cell wall. They involve in food storage.
Functions of xylem
² Transportation of water and minerals to the plant body which are absorbed
by plant roots.
² Providing of mechanical support to plant body.
Phloem tissue
Sieve plate
Phloem parenchyma
Companion cell Sieve tube
Sieve tube element Parenchyma cell
Companion cell
Sieve plate
Sieve plate pores Sieve tube element

Figure. 1.12 - Longitudinal section of the

Figure. 1.13 - Cross section of the
phloem tissue
phloem tissue
Phloem tissue is composed of four different types of cells.
² Sieve tube elements
² Companion cells
² Phloem fibres
² Phloem parenchyma
The sieve tube elements fuse end to end and the cross walls are incompletely
dissolved to form a sieve tube. The cross walls in these sieve tubes are called
sieve plates. Sieve tubes transport food (mainly sucrose) throughout the plant, as a
solution.
Companion cells are elongated cells associated with sieve tube elements. The
nucleus of the companion cell controls the activities of the sieve tube elements
(sieve tube elements lack a nucleus). Sieve tube elements, companion cells and
phloem parenchyma are living cells whereas phloem fibres are dead and found
scattered in phloem tissue.
Functions of phloem tissue
The food synthesized in the leaves are transported throughout the plant body by this
tissue (Translocation).

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Assignment 1.1
Compare structural and functional characteristics of phloem and xylem.
Include them in a table.

1.2 Animal tissues

The animal body is also made up of different types of cells.
Example :- The human body is made up of about 210 different types of cells.
There are groups of cells with common origin to perform a particular function in
the multicellular animal body. Main types of animal tissues are given below.
² Epithelial tissue
² Connective tissue
² Muscle tissue
² Nervous tissue

Connective Nervous tissue

tissue

Bone tissue Cardiac muscle tissue

Epithelial tissue Smooth muscle tissue

Figure 1.14 - Different tissues in human body

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1.2.1 Epithelial tissue
This is the tissue that lines up the free surfaces (internal and external) of the
vertebrate body. Some of them are composed of single layer of cells and the others
are with several cell layers.

Features of epithelial tissues

Tightly packed cells
Nucleus
Basement membrane
Figure 1.15 - Epithelial tissue

² The cells are placed on a basement membrane

² The cells are tightly packed
² A nerve supply is present within the tissue but there is no blood supply

The epithelial tissue is classified according to the shape of the cell and the number
of cell layers.
Examples for several locations of epithelial tissues are given below.
² Wall of blood capillaries
² Thyroid gland
² Lining of nasal cavity
² Wall of urinary bladder
² Skin (Epidermis)
Functions of epithelial tissue
² Lining up of free surfaces and protection - Protects the internal organs from
pressure, friction and microbes
² Absorptive function - The epithelium of digestive tract absorbs digestive
end products
² Perception of stimuli - The epithelium of tongue and nose, detect taste and
smell senses
² Secretory function - Secretion of mucous by the lining epithelium of
respiratory tract
² Filtering function - Epithelium of Bowman's capsule in nephrons, filters
blood

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1.2.2 Connective tissue

Connective tissue is composed of

different types of cells and fibres.
These cells and fibres are
embedded in a large matrix.
Most connective tissues
possess nerve and blood supply.
Connective tissue Bones Cartilage Blood
under skin
Figure 1.16 - Different Connective tissue present in
human arm
The connective tissues provide connection between tissues and organs and provide
support too.
E.g. :- Blood tissue, Bone tissue
Blood tissue
Blood is a special connective tissue. The speciality is that the matrix (plasma) is not
secreted by the blood cells. Blood tissue helps in maintaining proper connection
between organs and tissue of the human body.
Features of blood tissue
² Blood is composed of a fluid matrix. Matrix
is called plasma
² The matrix contains cells called red
blood cells (erythrocytes) and white blood
cells (leucocytes) and cellular fragments
called platelets
Figure 1.17 - Blood tissue ² Fibres are not found always but during
blood clotting they appear
Functions of blood tissue
² Transportation of materials - Respiratory gases, nutrients, excretory materials
and hormones are transported to the relevant
organs
² Protection - White blood cells destroy foreign bodies
(Microbes) by phagocytosis and by producing
antibodies
² Maintenance of homeostasis
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1.2.3 Muscle tissue
Muscle tissue is one of the main tissues that makes up the human body. Muscle tissue
is made up of muscle cells or muscle fibres. These muscle fibres possess contraction
and relaxation ability. Not like epithelial tissue, the muscle tissue possesses a good
blood supply. Therefore muscle tissue receives oxygen and nutrients at a high rate.
Muscle tissue acts as one of the effectors in responding in coordination.
Muscle tissue is of three types,

² Smooth muscle tissue

² Skeletal muscle tissue
² Cardiac muscle tissue

Assignment 1.2
Compare the characteristics of different muscle tissues.

Smooth muscle tissue

Smooth muscle tissue is made up of smooth muscle cells. This tissue is

found in the walls of organs with cavities.
Example :- Walls of digestive tract, uterus, blood vessels and bladder
Features of smooth muscle cell

² These cells are spindle shaped. The

cells are unbranched
² These cells have one nucleus at the
centre. No striations
² These cells do not become fatigue
quickly. They are controlled
Plasma involuntarily
membrane
Nucleus
Figure 1.18 - smooth muscle tissue

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Skeletal muscle tissue

Skeletal muscle tissue is made up of skeletal muscle fibres. These are mostly
associated with skeletal system. The skeletal muscles help in locomotion and
movements of chordates.
Features of skeletal muscle fibres

Skeletal muscular
fibre ² Skeletal muscle fibres are long, cylindrical,
unbranched cells.
² They are multinucleate cells with striations.
The nuclei present peripherally, and many
mitochondria are present.
² These cells are voluntarily controlled and
Nucleus Plasma membrane
become fatigue easily.
Figure 1.19 - Skeletal muscular tissue

E.g. :- Bicep muscle, Tricep muscle, Muscles in leg, Facial muscles

Cardiac muscle tissue

Cardiac muscle tissue is made up of cardiac muscle cells. It is exclusively found in
the vertebrate heart.

Features of cardiac muscle fibres

Intercalated disc
² Cardiac muscle cells are uninucleate,
striated and short cells
² Intercalated discs are present among
cells
² They never become fatigue. They
Nucleus Plasma membrane contract rhythmically
Figure 1.20 - Cardiac muscle tissue
² They are involuntarily controlled

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1.2.4 Nervous tissue

Cell body Node of
Synapsis
Ranvier
vesicles
Axon

Myelin sheath
Dendrites Nucleus
Figure 1.21- Structure of a typical neuron

It is an important tissue found in chordates body. The structural unit of nervous

tissue is nerve cell or neuron. Neurons are specialised to transmit impulses.
Features of neuron
² Neuron is composed of two parts. They are cell body and nerve fibres.
² Nucleus, mitochondria, golgi body and endoplasmic reticulum are found in
the cell body.
² Axon arises from the cell body as a single process. The axon transmits
impulses away from the cell body.
² Slender process called dendrites receive stimuli and transmit impulses to the
cell body.
² Most of the axons in chordates are myelinated. Myelin sheath is not continuous
and the interrupted places are known as nodes of Ranvier. The myelin sheath
increases the speed of transmission of impulses.

Functions of neurons
The function of the neuron is to receive the information from the receptors (eye, ear,
nose, tongue, skin) or another neuron and to transmit them to the effector (muscles)
or to another neuron.
According to the function of the neuron, they can be divided into three types as
follows (Figure 1.22).
² Sensory neuron
² Inter neuron
² Motor neuron

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Sensory neuron Motor neuron

Inter neuron
Figure 1.22 - Types of neurons

wledge
Extra kno
Sensory neuron
The cell body of the sensory neuron is present at the middle of the nerve fibers.
The cell bodies are present inside ganglion. The dendrites are present at the
sensory organs and the axon is present in the central nervous system. Ganglion
is a structure formed by the collection of cell bodies. They transmit impulses
from sensory organs to the central nervous system.

Motor neuron
A motor neuron possesses a star shaped cell body with many fibres. One of
them is the axon and it is long. Sometimes it is greater than 1m in length. The
other fibres and cell body are found within the central nervous system.
The function of the motor neuron is to transmit impulses from central nervous
system to effector (muscles).

Inter neuron
The whole neuron is present within the central nervous system. The axons are
short. Many dendrites are present.
The inter neuron connects the sensory neuron with motor neuron.

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Summary

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Exercise
^1& Underline the correct answer
I. Out of the cells and tissues given below which type is of dead cells?
1. Fibres 2. Parenchyma
3. Collenchyma 4. Sieve tube element

II. Which of the following is a complex tissue?

1. Parenchyma 2. Xylem 3. Sclerenchyma 4. Collenchyma
III. Features mentioned below could be observed in a plant tissue under a
microscope. Identify the tissue.
² Isodiametric cells
² Large vacuoles
² Living cells
1. Sclerenchyma 2. Collenchyma 3. Xylem 4. Parenchyma
iv. A characteristic of skeletal muscle fibre is,
1. Spindle shaped 2. Cross striations
3. Uninucleate 4. Never becomes fatigue
v. When a student observes an animal tissue under the microscope, he
observed the cells present on a basement membrane. The tissue is,
1. Epithelial tissue 2. Posseses connective tissue
3. Muscle tissue 4. Nervous tissue
vi' Which is correct about cardiac muscle fibres?
1. Non striated 2. Posseses intercalated discs
3. Multinucleate 4. Long, cylindrical cells

(2) State two differences between meristematic and permanent tissues.

(3) Name the tissue types given below

(a) (b) (c)

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(4) State two structural differences between a cardiac muscle fibre and a
skeletal muscle fibre.

^5'& Name the animal tissues given below in diagrams.

(a) (b) (c)

Technical terms
Meristematic tissues úNdcl mgl ¤›°øǯ®
Apical meristems w.%ia: úNdcl Ea]¨ ¤›°øǯ®
Lateral meristems md¾Yaúl úNdcl Cøh¨ ¦S¢u ¤›°øǯ®
Intercalary meristems wka;ria: úNdcl £UP¨ ¤›°øǯ®
Parenchyma tissue uDÿia;r mglh ¦øhU P»Âøǯ®
Collenchyma tissue ia:Q,fldaKdia;r mgl JmkU P»Âøǯ®
Sclerenchyma tissue oDVia;r mglh ÁÀ»¸SU P»Âøǯ®
Xylem tissue ffY,u mglh PõÌ
Phloem tissue maf,dahu mglh E›¯®
Fibres ;ka;= |õºPÒ
Sclereids Wm, ÁÀ¾¸UPÒ
Animal tissues i;a;aj mgl »[Qøǯ®
Epithelial tissues wmsÉPo mgl »[Qøǯ®
Muscle tissues fmaYs mgl uø\°øǯ®
Connective tissues iïnkaOl mgl öuõk¨¤øǯ®
Nervous tissues iakdhq mgl |µ®¤øǯ®

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