Biology
Tissues
By Dona Choudhury
Updated On 
Introduction
- Every cell/ tissues performs a specific function.
- A group of cells that are similar in structure and/or work together to achieve a particular function forms a tissue.

Tissues


Plant Tissues
- Meristematic tissues : These are dividing tissues, which divide throughout during a plant life span.
- Apical meristems : These are present at the tip of root or stems, it helps in increasing the length of the plant.
- Lateral meristems : The girth of the root/stem increases. Also known as cambium.
- Intercalary meristems : Seen in some plants located near node. These are regenerating tissues.

Plant: Simple Permanent Tissues
- Here, the plant take up specific function and loose the ability to divide.
- The process of taking up a permanent shape, size, and a function is called differentiation.
- Parenchyma :
- It has thin cell walls.
- These are living cells.
- They have large intercellular spaces in between.
- This tissue photosynthesizes and stores food.
- Sometimes parenchyma modifies into :
- Chlorenchyma: Contains chlorophyll, helps in photosynthesis.
- Aerenchyma: Present in aquatic plants, helps in buoyancy.
- Collenchyma :
- Provides flexibility to plant parts.
- Allows bending of tendrils, stems of climbers.
- Also provides mechanical support.
- These are living, there is very little intercellular space.
- Sclerenchyma :
- Makes the plant hard and stiff.
- This is a dead tissue.
- Its walls are thickened due to the deposition of lignin.
- Walls are thick with no intercellular space in between.
- Provides mechanical strength to the plants.
- Present in the husk of coconut.
- Constitutes the hard covering of seeds and nuts.

Plant: Complex Permanent Tissues
- Xylem Tissues
| Xylem parenchyma | Xylem fibre | Vessels | Tracheid |
| Living | Dead | Dead | Dead |
| Helps in photosynthesis, and storage of food. | Helps in providing mechanical strength. | Have thick walls, Tubular structures, Helps in transporting water and minerals. | They too have thick walls and tubular structures. Help in transporting water and minerals. |
- Phloem Tissues
| Phloem parenchyma | Phloem fibre | Companion cells | Sieve tube |
| Living | Dead | Living | Living |
| It stores food materials in the form of starch and fats. It also helps in the translocation of food. | Provides mechanical support to the plant body. | Works in association with sieve tubes. | These are tubular structures with perforated walls, Transports food throughout the whole plant body. |

Epidermis
- The outer most layer of cells, covering the plant body is known as epidermis.
- Epidermis is usually made up of single layer of cells.
- Desert plants, have thicker epidermis so to prevent excess loss of water.
- 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.
- On the epidermis of the leaf there are pores called 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 vapor) also takes place through stomata.
- Epidermal cells of the roots bear long hair-like structures for absorption as it increases the total surface area for absorption.

Picture Showing Loss Of Water From Aerial Parts Of The Plant : Transpiration
- In some plants like desert plants, epidermis has a thick waxy coating of cutin (chemical substance with waterproof quality) on its outer surface.
- A strip of secondary meristem located in the cortex forms layers of cells which constitute the cork. They also have a substance called suberin in their walls that makes them impervious to gases and water.

Animal Tissues
Epithelial Tissue
- The covering or protective tissue in animal body is known as epithelial tissue.
- It covers most organs and cavities within the body.
- These are tightly packed.
- They have almost no intercellular space between them.
- Epithelial tissue is of 4 major types :
Squamous epithelium
Cuboidal epithelium
Columnar epithelium
Stratified epithelium
- Squamous epithelium:
- This is very thin and flat tissue.
- It makes a protective layer as lining of the esophagus.
- The makes the lining of the mouth.
- It also makes the lining of the skin.

- Cuboidal epithelium :
- As the name suggests , it has cube like structure.
- Forms the lining of kidney tubules and ducts of salivary glands.
- Sometimes, it also provides mechanical support.

- Columnar epithelium :
- As the name suggests its shape is pillar-like or column-like.
- It lines the inner surface of the intestine.
- It also lines the respiratory tract.
- Sometimes, it can have hair-like projections on the outer surface of the epithelium, these cilia can move particles and other substances to the destination, this type of epithelium is known as ciliated columnar epithelium.

- Note: Sometimes the epithelium tissue modifies into specialized gland cells, which secrete substances, it folds inward into a multicellular gland and thus known as glandular epithelium.
- Note – Cuboidal and columnar epithelium is found in places where absorption and secretion occurs.
Connective Tissue
- As the name suggests “connective tissue” is the one which connects different parts of our body.
- These are loosely packed and embedded in an intercellular matrix.
- The matrix may be jelly-like fluid, dense or rigid.

- Areolar tissue :
- Found between the skin and muscles, around blood vessels and nerves and in the bone marrow.
- It fills the space inside the internal organs .
- Adipose tissue :
- Found below the skin and between internal organs.
- The cells of this tissue are filled with fat globules. Storage of fats also lets it act as an insulator.
- Blood :
- Cellular elements :
RBC (erythrocytes)
WBC (leucocytes)
Platelets (thrombocytes) - Fluid : The fluid component of blood is plasma.
- Plasma contains proteins, salts and hormones.
- Blood transports gases, hormones, digested foods, and waste products.
- Bone:
- It forms the framework that supports the body.
- It also supports and protects the main organs of our body.
- It is strong, hard and non-flexible.
- Bones embedded in a hard matrix which is composed of calcium and phosphorus compounds.
- Bones to bones connection – Ligament
- Muscles to bones – Tendons
- Cartilage :
- Its matrix is composed of proteins and sugars.
- Present in :
Ear
Nose
Trachea
Larynx

Matrix of Bone

Matrix Of Cartilage
Muscular Tissue
| Striated muscles | Unstriated muscles | Cardiac muscles |
| Found in skeletal muscles | Found around internal organs like alimentary canal, iris of eye etc. | Found in heart. |
| These muscles show striations or stripes. | These have no striations hence appear smooth. | These are also smooth in appearance. |
| These are long and cylindrical. | These are spindle shaped. | These are cylindrical. |
| Unbranched. | Branched. | |
| Multinucleated. | Uninucleated. | Uninucleated. |

Nervous Tissue

- The structural and functional unit of nervous system is a neuron.
- A neuron has the following parts:
- Dendrites
- Cell body also known as perikaryon
- Axon
- Nerve endings also known as synaptic bulb.
- The gap between two neurons is known as synaptic cleft.
- Pre-synaptic region + Synaptic cleft + Post-synaptic region = Synapse
