Tissues

Tissues are a group of cells that have a similar structure and perform a specific function.
Eg. Muscles.
Plant Animals
• Plants are fixed and stationery. • They can move, they are not
• Growth in plants is limited to stationery
specific regions • Growth takes place in every part
• Needs less energy to survive • Need more energy to survive.
• Need a lot of structural strength • Most of the tissues are alive.
• Most of the tissues are dead.

Plant Tissues
A) Meristematic Tissue
• Present in the growth region of the plant
• They keep dividing
• Eg- Tip of the branches & roots

Types of meristematic tissue:

1) Apical meristem
• It is present at growing tips of stems and roots
• They lead to the elongation of stems and roots
• They are involved in the primary growth of the plant

2) Lateral meristem
• They are present in the longitudinal axis of the plant
• It gives rise to vascular tissues.
• It helps in the growth of girth of the stem and roots.
• They are responsible in the secondary growth of the plant
 3) Intercalary meristem
• It is present at the inter nodes.
• They are a part of Apical meristem which was left behind during the growth.
• It also helps in longitudinal growth of the plant.

B) Permanent Tissue
• They are the meristematic tissues that have lost their ability to divide.
• They have a definite shape, size and function.(Differentiation)
• They may be dead or living.

1. Simple Permanent Tissue

a) Parenchyma
• They are unspecialised cells which have intercellular spaces.
• They store food in the spaces between them.
• They have thin cell walls
• They are composed of living cells.
• They provide support to the plant.
i. Chlorenchyma
• They contain chlorophyll and perform photosynthesis.
ii. Aerenchyma
• In aquatic plants, large cavities are present that help the plant to float on water
surface.

b) Collenchyma
• They provide flexibility to the plant
• They allow bending in various parts of the plant (leaf,
stem) without breaking.
• They are made up of living cells which are elongated in
shape and are irregularly thickened at the corners.
• There is very little intercellular spaces.
• They provide mechanical structure to the plant.
• These tissues can be found in leaf stalks below the
epidermis.

c) Sclerenchyma
• It is a strengthening tissue composed of extremely thick walled cell made
up of lignin.
• The cells of these tissues are dead which are long and narrow in shape.
• The cell walls are so thick that there is no internal space present inside the
cell.
• These tissues are present in the hard covering of seeds and nuts.
• They also provide strength to the plant.
Ques- Differentiate between Parenchyma, Sclerenchyma and Collenchyma.

EPIDERMIS
• Single layer of cell covering the entire plant surface is called epidermis.
• It protects all the parts of the plant.
• Epidermal cells on the aerial parts of the plant often secrete a waxy, water resistant layer on
their outer surface. This aids in protection against loss of water, mechanical injury and
invasion by parasitic fungi.
• Hair like filaments on the roots are also the modification of the epidermal cells which helps in
increasing the surface area for absorption.
• There is no intercellular spaces
• The epidermal cells are flat in structure and have a thick outer cell wall
• In dry habitats, epidermis forms a thicker layer to protect the plant against excessive water
loss. They have a waxy chemical called Cutin to prevent excessive water loss. Eg- Cactus

(Cutin - chemical substance with waterproof quality)

How does the Gaseous exchange and water vapour evaporation occurs?
• The epidermis have small spaces or pores in its structure. These pores are known as Stomata.
• Stomata are enclosed by two kidney-shaped cells called guard cells. They are necessary for
exchanging gases with the atmosphere. Transpiration (loss of water in the form of water
vapour) also takes place through stomata.

In the older plants, the epidermis is usually replaced by a secondary meristem which we call
Cork/Bark. Cells in these layers are usually dead and compactly arranged without intercellular
spaces. They also have a substance called suberin in their walls that makes them impervious to gases
and water(not allowing any exchange of water and gasses).
2) COMPLEX PERMANENT TISSUE
Made up of more than one type of cells.
Different types of cells coordinate to perform common functions.
Function: Transportation of water, mineral and food materials from one part of the plant to another.
Types: 1. Xylem
2. Phloem

They are called the vascular tissues/ Vascular bundles as they are present in bundled
form.
They are also known as Conducting tissues/transporting tissues.

1. Xylem:
• It is responsible for the transportation of water and minerals from the roots of the plant to the
other parts of the plant.
• It is made up of Tracheids, Vessels, Xylem parenchyma and Xylem fibres.
• Tracheids are tube like elongated cells with tapering ends. They conduct water through pits.
The cells walls are lignified. And also, they are dead cells
• Vessels are tubular structures. They are attached/arranged end to end. They conduct water.
The cells are dead and cell walls are lignified.
• Xylem Parenchyma stores food. They are living cells.
• Xylem Fibres provide support to the plant.

2 Phloem:
• It is responsible for the transportation of food from leaves to all the other parts of the plant.
• It is made up of Sieve tube, companion cells, phloem parenchyma and Phloem fibres.
• Sieve tube a tubular structure. It has very thin cell walls. Cells are arranged end to end. End
walls of sieve tube are porous and sieve plate is present.
• Companion cells are associated with sieve tubes. They are also thin walled cells.
• Phloem Parenchyma stores food. They are living cells. They help in lateral conduction of
food.
• Phloem fibres provide support to the tissue.
• All the cells of Phloem are living cells except Phloem fibres.
 ANIMAL TISSUES
1. EPITHELIAL TISSUE
• It consists of cells which form membranes.
• This membrane covers the body surface and
the glands.
• The covering or protective tissues in the
animal body are epithelial tissues.
• Epithelium covers most organs and cavities
within the body.
• It also forms a barrier to keep different body
systems separate.
• The skin, the lining of the mouth, the lining
of blood vessels, lung alveoli and kidney
tubules are all made of epithelial tissue.
• The cells are tightly packed and form a
continuous sheet.
• They have only a small amount of cementing material between them and almost no
intercellular spaces.
• These are divided into four types:-

A) SIMPLE SQUAMOUS
o The cells are extremely thin and flat and form a delicate
lining.
o The lining of oesophagus and the mouth are covered
with squamous epithelium.

B) STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
o The cells are arranged in many layers to prevent wear
and tear.
o Since they are arranged in a pattern of layers, the
epithelium is called stratified squamous
o The skin, which protects the body, is made of squamous
epithelium.
 C) COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

o The columnar (meaning ‘pillar-like’) epithelium

facilitates movement across the epithelial barrier.
o It is present where absorption and secretion occur, as in
the inner lining of the intestine, tall epithelial cells are
present.
o In the respiratory tract, the columnar epithelial tissue
also has cilia, which are hair-like projections on the
outer surfaces of epithelial cells.
o These cilia can move, and their movement pushes the
mucus forward to clear it. This type of epithelium is
thus ciliated columnar epithelium.

D) CUBOIDAL EPITHELIUM

i) Cuboidal epithelium (with cube-shaped cells) forms the

lining of kidney tubules and ducts of salivary glands,
where it provides mechanical support.
ii) Epithelial cells often acquire additional specialisation as
gland cells, which can secrete substances at the epithelial
surface.
iii) Sometimes a portion of the epithelial tissue folds inward
and a multicellular gland is formed.
iv) This is glandular epithelium.

2. CONNECTIVE TISSUE
They are specialised to connect various body parts
Eg. Bone to bone, muscle to bone or tissue
The main function is binding, supporting and packing together different organs of the body.
The cells of connective tissues are living, separated from each other and are very less in number.
Homogenous gel like intercellular substance called matrix form the bulk of connective tissue. Cells
are embedded in matrix.
Matrix may be liquid, dense, jelly like or loose.
• Areolar- They are found between skin
and muscle, around blood vessels,
nerves, fill space inside organs.
i) It acts as supporting and packing
tissue between organs lying in body
cavity.
ii) It helps in repair of tissue after an
injury.
iii) It fixes skin to underlying muscles.
They are of 2 types:
i) Tendons: They are elastic, cord like, strong structures that join muscle to bone. They are
made of white fibres.
ii) Ligaments: They are highly elastic and has great strength but contain very little matrix.
They connect bone to bone and are made of yellow white fibres.

• Adipose- They are basically an

aggregation of fat cells. Each fat cell is
rounded or
oval and contain a large droplet of fat
that almost fill it. They are abundant
below the skin, between internal
organs, in yellow bone marrow. It acts
as an insulator (regulates body
temperature, it forms shock absorbing
cushion around kidney and eye ball.)

• Skeletal Tissue- They are of 2 types:

i) Bone- It is very strong, non-flexible tissue, porous, highly vascular, its matrix is made up of
proteins, heavily coated with P, Ca, and Mg salts. These minerals are responsible for hardness
of the bone.
Function
• It forms endoskeleton of human
being and other vertebrates.
• It provide shape and support to
body
• It protects vital body organs.
• It serves as a storage site of Ca
and Phosphate.

ii) Cartilage- It is a flexible connecting tissue connecting joints between bones, rib cage, ear,
nose, etc. It acts like shock absorbent.
 • Fluid- (Blood) In this cell move in a
fluid or liquid medium called
plasma(55%). The blood plasma
does not contain fibres but contain
blood cell or corpuscles. Plasma is a
complex fluid which contain
inorganic salts and organic
compounds.
i) RBC: Red Blood Cells or
Erythrocytes
ii) WBC: White Blood Cells
or Leucocytes
iii) Platelets: They are non-living.
Blood occur in blood vessels ( Arteries, veins, capillaries)
Function
• They transport nutrients, hormones, vitamins to tissue.
• They transport excretory products tissue to liver and kidney.
• RBC carry oxygen to tissue for oxidation of food.
• WBC fight diseases
• Platelets disintegrate at the site of injury and helps in blood clotting.

3. MUSCULAR TISSUE
a. It consists of elongated cells, which are also known as muscle fibres.
b. It helps in movement of body structure.
c. They contain special proteins called contractile proteins, which contract and relax to
cause movement in the body.

a) Striated
1. The cells are long, cylindrical, unbranched and
multinucleate (having many nuclei).
2. These muscles are called voluntary muscles,
because they show movement when we want.
3. These muscles are also called skeletal muscles.
4. They are mostly attached to bones and help in
body movement.
5. These muscles show alternate light and dark bands or striations when observed under the
microscope, due to this reason they are also called striated muscles.
b) Smooth/Unstriated Muscle

1. The cells are long with pointed ends

(spindle-shaped) and uninucleate (having
a single nucleus).
2. They are also called unstriated muscles.
3. They are under the control of involuntary
muscles.
4. The movement of food in the alimentary
canal or the contraction and relaxation of
blood vessels are involuntary
movements.
5. They are also found in the iris of the eye, in ureters and in the bronchi of the lungs.

c) Cardiac Muscles
i. The muscles of the heart are involuntary
in nature and called cardiac muscles.
ii. The cells are cylindrical in shape,
branched and uninucleate.
iii. The heart muscles show rhythmic
contraction and relaxation throughout
life.

4. NERVOUS TISSUE
The cells of nervous tissue are highly specialized and the cells of this tissue are called nerve
cells or neurons.
• Nervous tissue stimulates and transmits the stimulus
very rapidly from one place to another within the
body.
• The brain, spinal cord and nerves are composed of
the nervous tissue.
• A neuron consists of a cell body which comprises of
nucleus and cytoplasm, from which long thin hair-
like parts arise.
• The neuron has a single long part, called the axon,
which transmit the nerve impulse to body parts.
• The neuron has short, branched parts called
dendrites.
• Many nerve fibres combine together by connective
tissue and form a nerve.
• Nerve impulse enables animals to move rapidly in
response to stimuli.