Parenchyma
The
parenchyma are the functional parts of an
organ in the body (i.e. the
nephrons of the
kidney, the
alveoli of the
lungs, the white and red pulp of the
spleen). This is in contrast to the
stroma, which refers to the supporting tissue of organs.
Main article: Ground Tissue: Parenchyma
Parenchyma cells are thin-walled cells of the
ground tissue that make up the bulk of most
nonwoody structures, although sometimes their cell walls can be lignified. Parenchyma cells in between the
epidermis and
pericycle in a
root or
shoot constitute the
cortex, and are used for storage of food. Parenchyma cells within the center of the root or shoot constitute the
pith.
New Latin, from Greek parenkhuma, visceral flesh, from parenkhein, to pour in beside : para-, beside + en-, in + khein, to pour.
