CH- 6 - TISSUES

IMPORTANT TERMS AND CONCEPTS:

1. Importance of Tissues:

i) Formation of tissues has brought about division of labour in multicellular organisms.

ii) Tissues become organized to form organs and organs into organ systems.

iii) Workload of individual cell has decreased.

iv) Due to improved organization and higher efficiency, multicellular organisms have higher survival.

2. Differences between:

Plant Tissues Animal Tissues

i) Tissues organization is towards i) Tissues organization is towards active

stationary or fixed habit. locomotion.

ii) Dead supportive tissues are more ii) Living tissues are more common.
abundant.
iii) Animals need more maintenance
iii) Plants need less maintenance energy. energy.

iv) There is differentiation of meristematic iv) Such a differentiation is absent.

and permanent tissues.
v) Organisation is complex.
v) Organisation is simple.
vi) Growth is not limited to a region in
vi) Growth is limited to certain regions. animals.

3. Meristematic Tissue (Meristems): It consists of undifferentiated actively dividing cells. These tissues are
living and bring about an increase in the length and girth of the plant. According to their position in the
plant, meristems are apical, lateral and intercalary.

4. Types of Meristems:

i) Apical meristems: They are present at the growth tips of stems and roots. They act as pro-
meristems from which other meristems are derived and help in increasing the length of the stem
and the root.

ii) Lateral meristems (Cambium): They lie on the lateral sides of stem and root and help in
increasing the girth of the stem or root. They act as secondary meristems.

iii) Intercalary meristems: They lie at the base of the leaves or internodes on twigs, and help in
longitudinal growth of plants by adding primary tissues.
 Location of meristematic tissue in plant body

5. Permanent Tissues: These tissues are derived from the meristematic tissues. Different types of
permanent tissues are formed by the differentiation of the cells of meristematic tissue.

6. Characteristics of Permanent Tissues:

i) Permanent tissues do not divide as they have lost the power of division.

ii) They have a definite form and size.

iii) They are differentiated cells and carry out specific functions.

iv) They may be living or dead cells.

v) They may have thin or thick cell walls.

vi) The cells are large with vacuolated cytoplasm.

7. Classification of permanent tissues: The permanent tissues are classified into two groups- simple and
complex which are further divided into various types as given below.

(i) Simple tissues are of 3 types – Parenchyma , Collenchyma and Sclerenchyma.

(ii) Complex tissues are of 2 types – Xylem and Phloem

8. Simple Permanent Tissues :- These tissues are composed of one type of cells only. The cells are
structurally and functionally similar.

9. On the basis of nature of cells they are of three types: Parenchyma, Collenchyma, and Sclerenchyma.
Parenchyma:

i) It is the most common simple tissue in plants with relatively little specialization.
ii) They are living cells.
iii) The cell wall is thin and made up cellulose.
iv) The cells are loosely packed with large intercellular spaces occurring in between cells.
v) These are found soft parts of the plant such as cortex of roots, ground tissues in stems.
vi) There is a large central vacuole and dense peripheral cytoplasm containing a distinct nucleus.
vii) The cells may be oval, round, polygonal or elongated in shape.
10. Functions of Parenchyma:

(i) Parenchyma cells of leaves containing chlorophyll are called Chlorenchyma.

They carry out photosynthesis.

(ii) Parenchyma cells of aquatic plants containing large air cavities are called aerenchyma,

which give buoyancy to plants to help them float.

iii) Parenchyma serves as a packing tissue to fill the spaces between other tissues and

maintain the shape and firmness of the plant.

11. Collenchyma:

i) The cells of this tissue are living, elongated and irregularly thickened at the corners.

ii) Intercellular space is very little.

iii) Collenchyma occur below the epidermis in leaf stalks, leaf mid-ribs.

iv) Collenchyma is characterized by the deposition of extra cellulose and pectin.

12. Functions of Collenchyma:

It allows easy bending in various parts of a plant (leaf, stem) without breaking.

13. Sclerenchyma:

Sclerenchyma cells are dead and without any Protoplasm. It is composed of long, narrow and

thick walled cells.

14. Functions of Sclerenchyma:

i) It forms a protective covering around seeds and nuts.

ii) It gives rigidity, flexibility and elasticity to the plant body.

15. Protective Tissue:

 The outermost layer of the plant body such as stems, roots and leaves are modified into protective tissue.

 The protective tissue protects the plant from undue loss of water and minor external injuries.

 These cells are specialized in number of ways to act as protective tissue.

 The two types of protective tissues present in plants are epidermis and cork.

16. Epidermis:

 It is the outermost layer of all soft parts of the plant like young stems, roots, leaves and flowers.

 It is one cell thick and is covered with cutin.

 The cells of epidermis are elongated, flattened and irregular in shape, without intercellular space.

 They have minute openings called stomata in the leaves and green shoots.
  The cells are parenchymatous in nature.

17. Functions of Epidermis:

 Epidermis acts as a protective tissue, covering the plant body.

 It protects the plant from excessive heat or cold and from the attack of parasitic fungi and bacteria.

 It allows exchange of gases and transpiration through stomata.

 The cuticle of epidermis checks the excessive evaporation of water.

18. Stomata:

 Stomata are the minute openings or pores present in the epidermis of leaf or green parts of the plant.

 Each stoma is surrounded by two kidney shaped cells called guard cells.

 The concave side of guard cells has a minute space or opening in between called stomatal opening.

 The guard cells are the only epidermal cells which contain chloroplasts.

19. Functions of Stomata:

 Stomata allow gaseous exchange between the plant and the atmosphere.

 These are sites of transpiration in plants.

20. Cork:

 It is the outermost protective tissue of older stems and roots.

 It is formed by a secondary lateral meristem.

 Cork cells are rectangular in shape which are composed of dead cells.

 The cells are arranged compactly without intercellular spaces.

21. Functions of Cork:

 Cork prevents loss of water by evaporation.

 It provides protection against mechanical injury.

22. Complex permanent tissues: These are made of more than one type of cells. All these cells coordinate

to perform a common function.

Xylem and Phloem are examples of Complex tissues. They are conducting tissues and constitute a

vascular bundle.
 Fig.6.7: Types of complex tissue

23. Xylem: It is a vascular and mechanical tissue, i.e. It is a conducting tissue. It is composed of four

different types of cells- Tracheid, vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibres.

i) Tracheids: They are long, tubular dead cells with lignified walls and tapering ends.

ii) Vessels: They are very long tube like structures formed by a row of cells placed end to end. The walls
are lignified. They generally lignified. They generally possess pits. Tracheid and vessels transport
water and mineral vertically.

iii) Xylem parenchyma: It consists of living cells having thin cells walls. It stores food and helps in the
sideways conduction of water.

iv) Xylem fibres: They have elongated dead cells with tapering ends thick cells walls. They are supportive
in function.

24. Phloem: Phloem is a living conducting tissue, composed of four elements – Sieve tube, companion cells, and
Phloem parenchyma and Phloem fibres.

25. Functions Phloem: Phloem transport foods from leaves to the storage organs and later from storage organs
to growing regions of the plant body.

26. Epithelial Tissue:

i) It is simplest tissue.
ii) It provides a protective covering forming a continuous sheet on most organs and cavities within
the body.
iii) The cells are closely packed and without intercellular spaces.
iv) It forms a barrier to keep different body systems separate.
V) The skin, the lining of the mouth, the lining of blood vessels, lung alveoli and kindney tubules are
all made of epithelial tissue.
 vi) It is usually separated from the underlying tissue by an extracellular fibrous basement membrane.

27. Squamous Epithelium: Simple squamous epithelium consists of extremely thin and flat cells forming a
delicate lining e.g. the oesophagus and the lining of the mouth. Skin epithelial cells are arranged in many layers
to prevent the wear and tear. Since they are arranged in a pattern of layers, the epithelium is called Stratified
Squamous Epithelium.

28. Cuboidal Epithelium: It consists of cube-like cells with rounded nuclei and forms lining of kidney tubeles and
ducts of salivary glands, where it provides mechanical support. It also helps in absorption, excretion and secretion.

29. Columnar Epithelium: It consists of tall cells which are pillar like having elongated nuclei. It is found in the
inner lining of the intestine where absorption and secretion occurs. This columnar epithelium facilitates
movement across the epithelial barrier.

30. Ciliated Epithelium: In the respiratory tract, the columnar epithelial tissue also has cilla, which are hair like
projections on the outer surfaces of epithelial cells. These cilia can move, and their movement pushes the mucus
forward to clear it. This type of epithelium is thus ciliated columnar epithelium.

31. Glandular Epithelium: Sometimes epithelial cells acquire additional specialization as gland cells which can
secrete substances at the epithelial surface. A portion of the epithelial tissue folds inward to form a multicellular
gland called glandular epithelium.

Different Types of epithelial tissues

32. Connective Tissue:

 The connective tissue is specialised to connect the various body organs.

  It can connect bones to each other, muscles to bones, bind tissues and give support to various
parts of body by forming packing around organs.

 The cells of connective tissue are living, loosely spaced and embedded in an inter cellular matrix.
This matrix may be jelly like, fluid, dense or rigid.

 In animals, connective tissues are of five types – areolar loose, dense regular, adipose, skeletal
and vascular or fluid.

33. Areolar Loose Connective Tissue: They are found between the skin and muscles, around blood vessels and
nerves and in the bone marrow and also help in repair of tissues.

34. Ligaments: They are elastic structures with considerable strength which connect bones to bones and are
composed elastic tissues. Ligaments contain very little matrix.

(ii) Tendons: They are strong and elastic structures that join skeletal muscles to bones and are composed of
fibrous tissues.

35. Adipose Tissue: This tissue is an aggregation of fat cells or adipocytes and each fact cells is rounded or oval.
It serves as a fat reservoir keeps visceral organs in position forming shock-absorbing cushions. The cells of this
tissue are filled with fat globules. Storage of fats also lets it act as an insulator.

36. Skeletal Tissue: The skeletal or supporting tissue includes cartilage and bone which forms the endoskeleton
of vertebrate body and protects the vital organs of the body.

i) Cartilage: It provides support and flexibility to the body parts and also smoothens bone suffaces at joints. It has
widely spaced cells, the solid matrix is composed of proteins and sugars. It is present in nose, Ear, trachea and
larynx.

ii) Bone: Bone is a very strong and not flexible tissue embedded in a hard matrix made up of protein and calcium
and phosphorous compounds. Due to presence of these material, bones are hard. It provides shape and also
skeletal support to the body. It also anchors the muscles and supports the main organs of the body.

37. Vascular Tissue: This tissue links the different parts of the body and maintains continuity in the body. It
includes blood and lymph.

i) Blood: It is a fluid (liquid) connective tissue. In this tissue, the cells move in a fluid matrix or medium called
blood plasma. The blood plasma contains cells called blood corpuscles (RBCs) which includes red blood corpuscles
(RBCs0. white blood corpuscles (WBCs) and platelets. The plasma contains proteins, salts and hormones and its
main function is transportation of materials.

38. Functions of Blood:

i) Blood transports nutrients, hormones and vitamins to the tissues and carries excretory products from the
tissues to the excretory organs.

ii) RBCs of blood help in the transport of respiratory gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide.

iii) WBCs of blood fight with diseases by producing antibodies and engulfing the germs.

iv) Blood platelets help in the clotting of blood.

v) Blood conducts heat and regulates body temperatures.

39. Muscular Tissues:

I) The contractile tissues are made of muscle cells which are elongated and large-sized and are so called

muscle fibers.

ii) On the basis of their location, structure and function, they are of three types-striated, unstraited and

cardiac muscles.

iii) Muscles contain special proteins called contractile proteins, which contract and relax to cause movement.

a) Striated or skeletal or Voluntary Muscles: They are attached to the bones and help in body movement

and so called skeletal muscles. The striated muscle cells are long or elongated, cylindrical, unbranched

and multinucleate. Since the entire muscle fibres show alternate dark and light bands or stripes or

striations, they are called striped muscles. These muscles work according to our will, so are also called

voluntary muscles.

b) UnStriated or Smooth or Involuntary Muscles: They occur as bundles or sheets of elongated spindle-

shaped cells or fibres with a single centrally located nucleus in the center of cytoplasm. These muscles

do not work according to our will so are involuntary muscles. Smooth or involuntary muscles control the

movement of food in the alimentary canal or the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. They are

also found in the iris of the eye, in uterus, and in the bronchi of the lungs.

c) Cardiac Muscles: This type of muscle tissues are present in the muscles of the heart and are composed

of branched, cylindrical and uninucleate cells. Cordiac muscles show rhythmic contraction and

relaxation of the heart and to pump and distribute blood to various parts of the body.
40. Nervous Tissue: The cells of nervous tissue are highly specialized for being stimulated and then

transmitting the stimulus very rapidly from one place to another within the body. The brain, spinal cord

and nerves are all composed of the nervous tissue. The cells of this tissue are called nerve cells or

neurons.
 41. Functions of Nervous Tissue:

i) Nervous tissue controls all the body activities.

ii) It coordinates amount various body parts during any body function.
iii) Dendron’s carry nerve impulses towards the cyton whereas axon carries impulses away from the
cyton.

42. Synapse: It is the junction or region of union of axon of one neuron with the dendrite of another through
which nerve impulses are transferred.