CLASS 9 - SCIENCE

TISSUES NOTES:

All living organisms are composed of cells. A

single cell performs all the basic functions in a
unicellular organism while in multicellular
organisms, different functions are performed
by different cells.

What is a tissue?

The group of cells similar in structure

which work together to achieve a
particular function forms a tissue.

A tissue may be simple or complex type.

Several tissues are organized to form tissue

systems which further form the organs
and several organs into organisms.

The structural and functional organisation

of cells in plants and animals is different.
Plants remain stationary, while animals
move as per their needs.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN :

PLANT TISSUES

Plant tissues can be classified into two

types on the basis of their dividing
capacity.

1. Meristematic Tissue : Cells are capable

of division.
2. Permanent Tissue : Mature cells which
are not capable of cell division
MERISTEMATIC TISSUE

The tissues in which cells always keep dividing and

give rise to new cells are called meristematic
tissues.

These tissues are responsible for the growth of

plants.

Plants grow only in those regions where

meristematic tissues are present.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MERISTEMATIC TISSUE

Ability to divide themselves and form new

tissues.

Cells of meristematic tissues are very active.

It has a thin cell wall made up of cellulose.

It contains dense cytoplasm and prominent

nuclei.
Meristematic tissue is classified on the basis of their
position in the plant body, which are described below:

APICAL MERISTEM

It is present at the growing tips of stems and roots.

It enables the roots and stem to grow by increasing

the length of the plant.

INTERCALARY MERISTEM

They are located at the base of the leaves or at the

internodes.

It helps in elongation of plants.

LATERAL MERISTEM

They are present on the lateral side of the stems

and roots.

It helps to increase the girth of the stem and root.

PERMANENT TISSUE

Permanent tissues are derived from the meristematic

tissues that take up a specific role and lose their ability to
divide.

The process by which the cells of the meristematic tissues

get converted into permanent tissue by taking a fixed
shape,size and function is called differentiation.

Permanent tissues are further divided as :

Simple Permanent Tissue

Complex Permanent Tissue

SIMPLE PERMANENT TISSUE:

These tissues are composed of cells which are structurally
and functionally similar.

Simple Permanent Tissues are of three types :

1) Parenchyma:

It is the most common simple permanent tissue.

These are simple living cells with little specialisation

and thin cell walls.
The cells in this type of tissue are loosely arranged,
with large intercellular spaces between them.

Functions of Parenchyma:
It serves as a food storage tissue.
It provides support to the plants.
Parenchyma are of two special types:

When the parenchyma cell contains chlorophyll in

some situations, it performs photosynthesis, such a
type of parenchyma is called chlorenchyma.

Parenchyma with large air cavities which helps the

aquatic plants to float are known as aerenchyma.

2) Collenchyma:

The cells of this tissue are living, elongated and

irregularly thickened at the corners.
There is very little intercellular space.
They are found below the epidermis in leaf stalks.

Functions of Collenchyma:

It provides mechanical support and flexibility to

plants.
It allows bending of various parts (tendrils and
stems of climbers) of plants without breaking.
3) Sclerenchyma:

The cells of this tissue are dead, long and narrow.

The walls are thickened due to lignin deposition.
The cells are closely packed and there is no
intercellular space.
It is present in stems around vascular bundles, in the
veins of leaves and in the hard covering of nuts and
seeds.

Functions of Sclerenchyma:

It is the tissue which provides strength to the plant and

also makes the plant hard and stiff. e.g., husk of coconut
is made up of this tissue.

It forms a protective covering around seeds and nuts.

PROTECTIVE TISSUE

The two types of protective tissues present in plants are:

1) Epidermis
2) Cork
1) Epidermis:
Cells of epidermal tissue form a continuous layer without
intercellular spaces as it has a protective role to play.

Most epidermal cells are relatively flat.

Epidermis aids in the protection against loss of water,

mechanical injury and invasion by parasitic fungi.

Epidermis of the leaf contains small pore called stomata. These

are enclosed by two kidney shaped cells called guard cells.

Two main functions of stomata:

They are necessary for exchanging gases in the atmosphere.

Process of transpiration (loss of water in the form of water

vapour) in plants also takes place through stomata.

2) Cork:

Cells of cork are dead and compactly arranged without

intercellular spaces.

They appear at the periphery of roots and stems when they

grow older and act as outer protective tissue.

Cell walls of cork cells contain a substance called suberin

which makes them impervious to gases and water.
 COMPLEX PERMANENT TISSUE:

Complex permanent tissue are made up of different types

of cells. These different types of cells coordinate with
each other and perform common functions.

There are two types of complex permanent tissue:

Xylem
Phloem
They are both conducting tissues and constitute a vascular
bundle. Vascular tissue is a distinctive feature of the complex
plants, one that has made possible their survival in the
terrestrial environment.

XYLEM:
It is responsible for the transport of water and minerals
from roots to other parts of the plant.

Xylem is made up of dead cells with thick cell lining.

It is composed of :

Tracheids: These are dead, long, tubular structures with

tapering ends. They transport water and minerals vertically.

Vessels: These are long, tube-like structures placed end to end

and help in conduction of water.

Xylem Parenchyma: These are the only living cells of xylem

with thin cell walls. They store food.

Xylem Fibres: These are elongated dead cells with tapering

ends thick cell walls.
 PHLOEM:

Phloem is made up of living cells.

It allows movement of food from leaves to other parts of the

plants.

It is composed of :

Sieve tubes: These are tubular cells with perforated walls.

Sieve cells: These are long conducting cells in the phloem.

Companion cells: These are small elongated cells having thin

cell walls which are not perforated and have active cytoplasm.
They help sieve tubes in translocation of food.

Phloem fibres: These are thick walled sclerenchyma cells which

provide mechanical strength to the tissue.

Phloem Parenchyma: These are thin-walled cells which help in

storage of food.

Except phloem fibres, other phloem cells are living cells.

Animal
Tissues
ANIMAL TISSUES :
Animal tissues are classified into four basic types, on the
basis of their functions:

1.EPITHELIAL TISSUE

They are the protective tissues of the human body.

Epithelium covers most organs and cavities within

the body.

The epithelial tissues are found in the lining of the

mouth, in the lining of the blood vessels, skin, lung
alveoli and kidney tubules.

Structure and functions of epithelial tissue:

It acts as a barrier and separates different organs

and systems from each other.

No intercellular space is observed.

 The cells are permeable which makes it possible to
exchange the materials between the body and the
external environment and also between different
parts of the body.

The epithelial tissues remain separated from the

tissues beneath them because of a thin membrane
over them.

On the basis of shape of the cells and their arrangements,

epithelial tissues are further classified as follows:

i) Squamous Epithelium:

It constitutes the skin which protects the body.

It is further divided into two types:

1. Simple Squamous epithelium :

They have a delicate cell lining and possess extremely

thin and flat structure.
The transportation of materials occurs through a
selectively permeable surface.
They are found in the lining of blood vessels and lung
alveoli, oesophagus and lining of mouth.

2. Stratified Squamous epithelium :

It is found in the outer side of the skin.

The cells of skin epithelial are arranged in many
layers in order to prevent wear and tear.
 Since they are arranged in patterns of layers, it is called
stratified squamous epithelium.

ii) Columnar Epithelium:

Columnar epithelial cells contain cylindrical cells and
facilitate movement across the epithelial barrier.
They are found in the lining of intestine and stomach.

Columnar Epithelial tissue with cilia is known as ciliated

columnar epithelium. These cilia (hair-like projections) can
move and their movement pushes the mucus forward to clear
it. It is found in respiratory tract, kidney tubules, etc.

iii) Cuboidal Epithelium:

Cuboidal epithelial cells are formed of cube-shaped cells
and contain round nuclei.
They provide mechanical support and also helps in
absorption,secretion and excretion of materials.
They are found in the lining of kidney tubules and salivary
glands.

iv) Glandular Epithelium:

Sometimes, a portion of epithelial tissue folds inward and a
multicellular gland is formed which can secrete substances
at the epithelial surface. It is known as glandular
epithelium.
2. CONNECTIVE TISSUE:

Connective tissues are fibrous in nature.

They are loosely bound cells present in an intercellular
matrix.
The matrix can be of various types: Dense, rigid or fluid
like.
The nature of the matrix depends on the functionality of
the connective tissue.
This tissue is specialised to connect various body organs
with each other.
E.g., it connects two or more to each other, muscles to
bones and binds different tissues together

Various types of connective tissues are:

1. Blood
2. Bone
3. Ligaments
4. Tendon
5. Areolar
6. Adipose

BLOOD :

Has a fluid matrix which is known as plasma, which

contains red blood cells, white blood cells and blood
platelets.

It also contains salts, proteins and hormones.

Blood flows within blood vessels and transport gases,

food, waste materials and hormones in body.
 BONE :

Bone cells are embedded in a hard matrix that is

composed of proteins, calcium and phosphorus
compounds.

Provides supports the body and anchors the muscles.

It is a strong and non-flexible tissue.

LIGAMENT :

Two bones can be connected to each other with the

help of ligament. It is very elastic in nature.

It has considerable strength.

Contain very little matrix.

TENDON :

Connect muscles to bones.

Fibrous tissue with great strength but limited flexibility.

 CARTILAGE :

This tissues has widely spaced cells and the solid matrix
called chondrin which is composed of sugar and
proteins.

It smoothes bone surfaces at joints and is present in

nose, ear trachea and larynx.

Areolar connective tissue:

It is found between the skin and muscles, around

blood vessels and nerves and in the bone marrow.
It supports internal organs and helps in repair of
tissues.

Adipose tissue:

It contains cells that are filled with fat globules.

It is called fat-storing tissue and it acts as an insulator.

.MUSCULAR TISSUE:

It is made up of elongated cells which are known as

muscle fibers .
This tissue is responsible for movement in our
body.
Muscles contain special proteins called contractile
proteins.
These proteins cause relaxation and contraction of
the muscles.
Different types of muscular tissues are:

1) Skeletal muscle,
2) Smooth muscle and
3) Cardiac Muscle

SKELETAL MUSCLES :

Cells are long, cylindrical, unbranched and contains

many nuclei.

These muscles are known as skeletal muscle as they

are mostly attached to bones and help in body
movement.

As these muscles can move according to our will,

they are known as voluntary muscles.

These muscles show dark and light bands when

observed the microscope. Therefore, they are called
‘striated muscles’.

SMOOTH MUSCLE

The cells are long with pointed ends and contains a

single nucleus.

As these muscles cannot move according to our will,

they are known as involuntary muscles.
CARDIAC MUSCLES :

Cells are cylindrical, branched and uninucleate.

Controls the rhythmic contraction and relaxation

of the heart.

These muscles are involuntary in nature.

4. NERVOUS TISSUE:

How do we react to stimuli?

It is because of the nervous tissues present in our

body.
They are capable of transmitting information
quickly from the brain to different parts of the
body and vice-versa.
Nervous tissues are found in nerves, brain and
spinal cord.
The nervous tissue is composed of cells which are
known as nerve cells or neurons.
Neurons connect together to form nerves in our
body.

Structure of Neuron:

A neuron consists of a cell body with a nucleus and

cytoplasm, from which long thin hair-like parts arise.

Each neuron has a single long part called the axon

and many short, branched parts known as dendrites.

A nerve cell can be upto 1 metre long.