parenchyma
[ puh-reng-kuh-muh ]
/ pəˈrɛŋ kə mə /
noun
Botany.
the fundamental tissue of plants, composed of thin-walled cells able to divide.
Anatomy, Zoology.
the specific tissue of an animal organ as distinguished from its connective or supporting tissue.
Zoology.
a type of soft, spongy connective tissue of certain invertebrates, as the flatworms.
Pathology.
the functional tissue of a morbid growth.
Origin of parenchyma
OTHER WORDS FROM parenchyma
pa·ren·chy·mal, par·en·chym·a·tous [par-uh ng-kim-uh-tuh s] /ˌpær əŋˈkɪm ə təs/, adjective in·ter·pa·ren·chy·mal, adjectiveWords nearby parenchyma
Example sentences from the Web for parenchyma
British Dictionary definitions for parenchyma
parenchyma
/ (pəˈrɛŋkɪmə) /
noun
unspecialized plant tissue consisting of simple thin-walled cells with intervening air spaces: constitutes the greater part of fruits, stems, roots, etc
animal tissue that constitutes the essential or specialized part of an organ as distinct from the blood vessels, connective tissue, etc, associated with it
loosely-packed tissue filling the spaces between the organs in lower animals such as flatworms
Derived forms of parenchyma
parenchymatous (ˌpærɛŋˈkɪmətəs), adjectiveWord Origin for parenchyma
C17: via New Latin from Greek
parenkhuma something poured in beside, from
para-
1 +
enkhuma infusion
Medical definitions for parenchyma
parenchyma
[ pə-rĕng′kə-mə ]
n.
The distinguishing cells of a gland or organ, contained in and supported by the stroma.
Other words from parenchyma
pa•ren′chy•mal null adj.Scientific definitions for parenchyma
parenchyma
[ pə-rĕng′kə-mə ]
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. Compare collenchyma sclerenchyma.