unspecialized plant tissue consisting of simple thin-walled cells with intervening air spaces: constitutes the greater part of fruits, stems, roots, etc
2.
animal tissue that constitutes the essential or specialized part of an organ as distinct from the blood vessels, connective tissue, etc, associated with it
3.
loosely-packed tissue filling the spaces between the organs in lower animals such as flatworms
Derived forms
parenchymatous (ˌpærɛŋˈkɪmətəs) or parenchymal (pəˈrɛŋkɪməl)
adjective
Word origin
C17: via New Latin from Greek parenkhuma something poured in beside, from para-1 + enkhuma infusion
parenchyma in American English
(pəˈrɛŋkɪmə; pəˈrɛnkɪmə)
noun
1. Anatomy
the essential or functional tissue of an organ, as distinguished from its connective tissue, blood vessels, etc.
2. Botany
a soft tissue made up of thin-walled, undifferentiated living cells with air spaces between them, constituting the chief substance of plant leaves and roots, the pulp of fruits, the central portion of stems, etc.
3. Zoology
a spongy mass of tissue packing the spaces between the organs of some invertebrates
Derived forms
parenchymal (paˈrenchymal)
adjective or parenchymatous (ˌpærɛnˈkɪmətəs)
parenchymatously (ˌparenˈchymatously)
adverb
Word origin
ModL < Gr, anything poured in beside < para-, beside (see para-1) + enchyma, infusion < enchein, to pour in < en-, in + cheein, to pour: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF