Plant Cells
with similar structure and functions form plant tissue
Plant tissues come in several forms:
1. vascular
2. epidermal
3. ground
4. meristematic
Each type of tissue consists of different types of cells, has
different functions, and is located in different places
Plant tissues are divided into two main types:
1. Meristematic tissue
actively dividing to produce new cells
consists of undifferentiated small cell, with dense
cytoplasm and large nuclei
cells differentiate into new tissue of the plant
found at the meristems of plants:
Apical Meristem
located at the growing points at the tips of
roots and stems and results in an increase in
the length of these structures
Lateral Meristem
results in the growth in thickness or width of
woody roots and stems
also called cambium; cork cambium divides to
form the cork
cells that form the outer bark of a woody plant
Vascular cambium divides to make xylem and
phloem tissue
2. Permanent Tissue
specialized in function and do not divide constantly
differentiation of cells begins as soon as cells have
been formed by cell division results in changes in
structure
3 groups of permanent tissue:
A. Epidermal Tissue
outermost layer of cells that covers the roots, stems,
and leaves
tightly packed
with no intercellular air spaces
main function of the epidermal cells is to protect the
underlying tissue from injury
a. Guard cells
are bean-shaped epidermal cells that occur on either
side of a stoma which is the opening that occurs on
the surface of a leaf. The guard cells function to open
and close the stoma, thus controlling the loss of
water by transpiration.
b. Hair cells
are formed by an extension of the cell wall. The hair
functions to increase the surface area of the root to
maximize the uptake of water and nutrients.
B. Vascular tissue
functions to transport and support.
a. Xylem Tissue
transport water and mineral salts from the ground
water through the roots to the stems and leaves
consists of vessels and tracheids - both cells have cell
walls that are strengthened with lignin and both
types of cells are dead at maturity.
b. Phloem Tissue
transport food from the leaves, where photosynthesis
takes place, to areas undergoing growth or storage
sites
consists of long columns of sieve tubes & companion
cells
C. Ground Tissue
forms the body of the plant and is responsible for
support, storage, and photosynthesis.
3 types of ground tissue:
a. Parenchyma
thin walled and alive at maturity; often multifaceted
b. Collenchyma
thick walled and alive at maturity
c. Sclerenchyma
thick walled and dead at maturity
Cell specialization or modification
occurs after cell division wherein newly formed cells
are structurally modified so that they can perform
their function efficiently and effectively.
1. Apical modification
cell modification found on the apical surface of the
cell.
Cilia & flagella
Cilia are usually short, hair-like structures that move
in waves.
Flagella are long whip-like structures.
Formed from microtubules
Villi & microvilli
Villi
finger-like projections that arise from epithelial layer
in some organs. They help to increase surface area
allowing for faster and more efficient adsorption
Microvilli
smaller projections that arise from the cell’s surface
that also increase surface area allowing faster and
more efficient adsorption
These projections increase the surface area of the
small intestine for the absorption of nutrients, and as
a higher surface area = higher rate of transportation
processes such as diffusion, they thus increase the
rate of absorption
Pseudopods
Temporary, irregular lobes formed by amoebas and
some other eukaryotic cells
Bulge outward to move the cell or engulf prey
From the Greek word pseudes and podos, meaning
“false” and “feet”
Extracellular matrix (ECM)
Compound secreted by the cell on its apical surface
Cell wall in the extracellular structure in plant cells
that distinguishes them from animal cell
Glycoprotein is the main ingredient of ECM in animal
cells.
cover external surface, line up internal organs, take
up nutrients, export wastes, and interact with the
external environment.
2. Basal Modification
Cell modification found on the basal surface of the
cell desmosomes/hemidesmosomes
Anchoring junction on the basal surface of the cell
Rivet-like links between cytoskeleton and
extracellular matrix components such as the basal
lamina that underlie epithelia. Primarily composed of:
1. keratin
2. integrin
3. cadherin
3. Lateral modification
A cell junction that provides contact between
neighboring cells or between the cell and
extracellular matrix
a. Tight Junction
Acts as barriers that regulate the movement of the
water and solutes between epithelial layers
Prevent leakage of ECF
b. Adhering Junction
Anchoring junction on the lateral surface of the cell
Very similar to the anchoring junction of the basal
surface of the cell
Fasten cells to one another
c. Gap Junction
known as communicating junctions
Closable channel that connect the cytoplasm of
adjoining animal cells
Presence of connexon that allow direct exchange of
chemical between the cytoplasm of the cells
