Plant and Animal Tissues: Types, Characteristics, and Functions

Plant Tissues

Supporting Tissue

Supporting tissue is found in the interior of the plant body. These tissues form the plant skeleton, giving it rigidity and strength. Their cells have very thickened walls.

Types of Supporting Tissue

• Collenchyma: Found in younger parts, consisting of living parenchymal cells reinforced by cellulose in some areas.
• Sclerenchyma: Supporting tissue of the developed parts, consisting of dead cells with thickened walls and lignin. If they are elongated, they are called fibers, and if they are round, they are called stone cells.

Secretory Tissues

Secretory tissues are varied, modified epidermal cells, such as those that accumulate aromatic substances, resin canals, and lactiferous ducts.

Animal Tissues

Epithelial Tissue

Types of Epithelium

• Simple Squamous: A layer of flat cells with an exchange function, lining the interior of blood vessels and organs.
• Simple Prismatic: A layer of prismatic cells with a conducting role in the airways, or a layer of microvilli whose function is absorption in the small intestine.
• Stratified Squamous: Several layers of cells, the outermost keratinized, with a protective function in the skin, or non-keratinized layers of flat cells with a conducting function in mucous membranes.
• Stratified Prismatic: Layers of prismatic cells conducting in the pharynx.
• Glandular: Formed by epithelial cells grouped into organs, differing in endocrine (secreting hormones), exocrine (discharged to the outside or digestive tract), or mixed (interior and exterior).

Connective Tissue

Bone Tissue

Cartilaginous Tissue