parenchyma Definition
pa·ren·chyma (pə reŋ′ki mə, -ren′-)
noun
- Anat. the essential or functional tissue of an organ, as distinguished from its connective tissue, blood vessels, etc.
- 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.
- 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.
Browse dictionary entries near parenchyma
- ‹ paren
- ‹ pareira (brava)
- ‹ pareira
- ‹ paregoric
- ‹ pare
- ‹ pardoner
- ‹ pardoned
- ‹ pardonable
- ‹ pardon
- ‹ pardner

