Meristematic Tissue

Meristematic tissues are found in the growing regions of the plant like the
tips of root, stem and branches. They divide continuously and help in the
growth of the plant. They are of three types.

Apical Meristem: It is present at the growing tip of the stem and roots and increases the
length.
(ii) Lateral Meristem (cambium): It is present on the side of root and stem (beneath the bark).
It is responsible for growth in girth or diameter of plant.
Intercalary meristematic tissues :- are present at the base of leaves and internodes and help
in the growth of those parts.

Permanent tissues:-
Formed from meristematic tissues. They do not divide and have permanent shape and size.
They differentiate into different types of permanent tissues. Permanent tissues are of two
main types. They are Simple permanent tissues and Complex permanent tissues.

i)Simple permanent tissues :- are made up of one type of cells. They

are of three types called Parenchyma, Collenchyma and Sclerenchyma.

Parenchyma: Cells of parenchyma tissues are live. They are loosely packed with large inter-
cellular space. It is a basic type of packing tissue and are found throughout the plant body.
Functions of parenchyma: They provide mechanical support to the plant body. They store
food and nutrients in vacuoles.
Chlorenchyma: Parenchyma with chlorophyll which performs photosynthesis is called as
Chlorenchyma.
 Aerenchyma: In aquatic plants, cells of parenchyma have large air cavities to give buoyancy
to the plant and is called aerenchyma.

(b) Collenchyma: Cells of collenchyma are live. They are elongated cells, with no inter-
cellular spaces and thickened at the corners. They are found below epidermis in leaves and
stem. Functions of collenchyma tissues: They also provide flexibility to plants so that they can
bend without breaking.

(c) Sclerenchyma: Cells of sclerenchyma are dead, long narrow and with thick cell walls. The
cell wall in sclerenchyma is composed of lignin which makes it hard. Sclerenchyma are found
around vascular bundles, veins of leaves in hard covering of seeds and nuts. (Coconut husk
contains sclerenchyma). Functions of sclerenchyma: 
They help to makes parts of plant hard and stiff. Also provides mechanical strength. 

Protective tissues: There are two types of protective tissues: 

1. Epidermis: Epidermis tissue covers the entire plant. It protect plant from injury, attack of
pathogens and water loss. Cells of epidermal tissue form a continuous layer without
intercellular spaces. Epidermal tissue in leaves are covered with waxy cuticle. In desert
plants, epidermis and cutin are thicker to reduce loss of water due to transpiration 

Stomata are small openings on epidermal layer of leaf and soft part of stem. Each stomata is
composed of two guard cells which regulate the opening and closing of stomata. Stomata
facilitate the gaseous exchange and transpiration in plants.

Transpiration: The plant cells when lose water in the form of water vapours through stomata.
This process is called transpiration. 
Root hairs- are the elongation of epidermis in root for water absorption.

2.Cork (Bark): As the plant grow older epidermis is replaced by meristem which divide and
form cells on both side of meristem. Cells of outside form several layer thick cork. It consist of
dead cells with no intercellular spaces, and cell wall contains suberin that makes them
impervious to gases and water. Cork tissue protects plants from injuries, germs and water
loss.

Complex Permanent Tissue- The complex permanent tissues are made up of more than
one type of cell. They coordinate together to perform the same specialized functions in the
plant body. They are classified into two types –
Xylem and Phloem

 Xylem: This is the tissue that transports water and nutrients from root to upper parts of plant.
It is composed of four types of cells. 
1. Trachieds are long elongated dead cells with tapered ending. 
2. Vessels are a pipe like structure. Vessels are dead. Trachieds and vessels transport water
and minerals vertically.
3. Xylem Parenchyma are living cells. They store food and nutrients. 
4. Xylem fibres (Sclerenchyma) are dead cells. They provide mechanical support to plant. 

Phloem: Phloem is the tissue that transports food from leaf to different parts of plants. It is
composed of four types of cell. Al types of cells are live except phloem fibres. 
1. Sieve tubes- are tubular cells and have thin cell wall. They have cytoplasm but no nucleus
and other organelles. Responsible for transportation of food.
2. Companion cells have cytoplasm, nucleus and other organelles. They facilitate the
functions of the sieve tubes
3. Phloem parenchyma store food.
4. Phloem fibres have thick cell wall and they provide mechanical support to plant. 

Animal tissues :-
Animal tissues are of four main types . They are :- Epithelial tissue, Muscular
tissue, Connective tissue and Nervous tissue.
i) Epithelial tissues :- are of different types. They are :- Squamous, Columnar,
Cuboidal, Glandular etc.
ii) Muscular tissues :- are of three types. They are :- Striated, Unstriated and
Cardiac.
iii) Connective tissues :- are of different types. They are :- Blood, Bone, Ligaments,
Tendons, Cartilage, Areolar, Adipose etc.
iv) Nervous tissue-:- consists of nerve cells called neurons.

Epithelial tissue is the covering or protective tissue in animals.

 It forms the outer covering like skin, outer covering of organs, inner lining of blood
vessels, lungs, esophagus, etc.
 It protects the body and controls the movement of materials between the body and the
surroundings and between the parts of the body.
 The cells are closely arranged and have a fibrous basement membrane.
Connective tissue :-

Connective tissue connects and joins the different parts of the body together.
The cells of the connective tissue are loosely packed and the space between the
cells are filled with a jelly like matrix.

i) Blood :- Blood contains a fluid matrix called plasma which contains red blood cells (RBC),
white blood cells (WBC) and platelets. The blood transports gases, digested food, hormones,
waste materials etc.
ii) Bone :- is a hard and strong tissue. It consists of cells which are embedded in a hard
matrix containing calcium and phosphorus compounds. Bone forms the framework of the
body and supports the body and the main organs.
iii) Ligaments :- are flexible tissues which joins bones together and helps in movements.
iv) Tendons :- are fibrous tissues which joins muscles to bones and helps in movements.
v) Areolar tissues :- fills the space between skin and muscles, inside the organs, around
blood vessels etc. It helps to repair the tissues.
vi) Adipose tissue :- is found below the skin and between internal organs. It contains fats
and helps to store fats.

d) Nervous tissue :-
Nervous tissue helps to carry messages from one part of the body to the other and responds
to stimuli. It is found in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. It consists of nerve cells called
neurons.
Neuron (Nerve cell) :- has a cell body containing a nucleus and cytoplasm. It has hair like
structures called dendrites and a long part called axon having nerve endings. The axon has a
protective covering called myelin sheath. The neurons are joined together to form nerve
fibres. The junction between two neurons is called synapse.