parenchyma Hear it!

parenchyma Definition

pa·ren·chyma (pə reŋ′ki mə, -ren′-)

noun

  1. Anat. the essential or functional tissue of an organ, as distinguished from its connective tissue, blood vessels, etc.
  2. Bot. 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. Zool. a spongy mass of tissue packing the spaces between the organs of some invertebrates

Etymology: ModL < Gr, anything poured in beside < para-, beside (see para-) + enchyma, infusion < enchein, to pour in < en-, in + cheein, to pour: see found

parenchyma Related Forms

pa·ren′·chy·mal adjective or par·en·chyma·touspar′en kim′ə təs par′·en·chym′a·tously adverb

parenchyma Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • cortical: The section shows from the pith ( at right ) to the cortical parenchyma ( at left ).
  • renal: The lesion displays heterogeneous texture with echogenicity similar to the normal renal parenchyma.
  • normal: The lesion displays heterogeneous texture with echogenicity similar to the normal renal parenchyma.

Modifies a noun

cell: Parenchyma cells, which make up the bulk of the stem, are thin walled with large vacuoles.

Noun used with modifier

  • liver: This involves placement of an expandable metallic stent between the branches of the portal vein and systemic circulation within the liver parenchyma.
  • lung: In contrast, these receptors were not detected on mast cells purified from human lung parenchyma.
  • palisade: Distinctive yellow spots can be seen as a result of dead palisade parenchyma cells.
  • kidney: The right kidney parenchyma was thinned and irregular and contained low attenuation areas and tiny foci of calcification.