The notion of parenchyma is used in both botany and anatomy . The term comes from the scientific Latin parenchyma , in turn derived from the Greek parénchyma (which refers to the "substance of the organs" ).
This Greek word was formed with the prefix "para", which can be translated as "next to"; the prefix «en-«, which is synonymous with «within»; the noun "chymós", which means "liquid of biological origin"; and the action suffix “-ma”.
For botany , parenchyma is the plant tissue that is made up of cubic or spherical cells. It is the tissue that is responsible for filling the spaces left free by other structures and organs, allowing the continuous development of a whole and assuming different tasks.
It is possible to differentiate between different types of plant parenchyma. The chlorophyllous parenchyma (also called chlorophyllous parenchyma or chloroenchyma ), present in the green stems and leaves, is responsible for carrying out photosynthesis . The reserve parenchyma , meanwhile, allows the storage of nutrients and other useful substances.
However, there are two other types of plant parenchyma. We are referring to these:
-Aquifer parenchyma, whose cells store a certain amount of water and are characterized by being large or having thin walls. In the same way, it must be noted that this is typical of plants found in dry climates.
-Aeriferous parenchyma, which is the tissue composed of intercellular spaces that are large and empty.
The conductive tissues of the plant, for their part, are protected by the vascular parenchyma . There is also the filling parenchyma , which enters the free spaces.
For anatomy , parenchyma is a connective tissue similar to plant parenchyma. In general, the term refers specifically to the tissue found in the glandular organs and that allows these structures to fulfill their functions.
This parenchyma is made up of a gas exchange system and an air conduction system. Likewise, it must be said that it also has collagen fibers and can be a victim of different diseases. Among them we can highlight the following: tumorous, infectious, obstructive and restrictive.
We also have to talk about the brain parenchyma, which is the name given to the functional tissue of the brain that is fundamentally composed of two types of cells: the so-called glial cells and neurons. It can suffer various types of damage, such as hemorrhages.
Of course, there is the hepatic parenchyma, which is the functional tissue of the liver, and the renal parenchyma, which is the functional tissue of the kidney. The latter must be established that it is made up of two well-differentiated parts: the internal renal medulla and the external renal cortex.
The parenchyma of animal organs, in short, is the functional tissue . This particularity differentiates it from the stroma , as the supporting or structural tissue is called. Let's take the case of the lung parenchyma : it is that tissue of the lungs that is found in the bronchioles and alveoli and that participates in gas exchange.