Biology PRACTICAL No: 2 TISSUES

AIM :To identify different types of plant and animal tissues.

REQUIREMENTS: microscope, permanent slides of plant and animal tissues.

PROCEDURE: Arrange the permanent slides of plant or animal tissue and identify it.

OBSERVATION: The different types of plant and animal tissues are:

A) Parenchyma:

Location: Most abundant tissue of plant. Makes up the inner and outer layers of the leaves and the
pith(innermost layer of stems and root).-Present in the medullary rays and packing tissues in xylem and phloem

Structure: They are living cells with unspecialized structure and can be differentiated. They are isodiametric
(all sides are equal) oval, elongated, spherical or polygonal in shape. Cells wall is thin, encloses a dense
cytoplasm. Cells are loosely packed cells, intercellular spaces are abundant.

Function: Stores food and water. It provides support to the plant, secretion, excretion.

B) Collenchyma

Location: It is found below the epidermis in the leaf stalk, leaf midribs and dicot stems. Absent in monocots

Structure: Cells are living elongated cells. Cell wall is uneven on the cell wall at the corners. Very little
intercellular spaces are found.
Function: It gives flexibility, provides mechanical support to the plant. When collenchyma contains
chlorophyll, they perform photosynthesis.

C) Sclerenchyma

Location: Present in stems around vascular bundles, veins of leaves, hard covering of seeds and nuts.

Structure:They are dead, long and narrow. Cell wall is thick due to lignin. No intercellular spaces.

Function: Provides mechanical strength. Lignin acts like cement and hardens and makes the cell wall
impermeable.

D) Smooth Muscles(Non-striated)
They are present on the linings of the alimentary canal and the blood vessels. Cells are elongated, branched and
uninucleate. There are no bands present. Smooth muscle is an involuntary muscle.

Function: It is responsible for expanding and contracting the passage of blood and other fluids through the
vessels and organs.
E) Striated Muscles

These muscles are present in body structures like hands, legs and tongue. Cells are cylindrical. Cells are not
branched. Cells are multinucleated. Alternate light and dark bands are present. They are under voluntary
control.

Function: They are responsible for creating movement.

F) Cardiac tissue:

These muscles are present on the walls of the heart. Cells are cylindrical, branched and uninucleate. Few faint
bands are present. The cardiac muscle is involuntary.

Function: It is responsible for contracting and relaxing the pumping of the blood around your body.