parenkumaa

Parenkumaa is a biological term used to describe the functional tissue of an organ, consisting of the cells that perform the organ’s specialized activities. It is contrasted with stroma, the supportive framework of connective tissue, vasculature, and other non-functional components. The term is applied in both plant biology and animal anatomy to denote the tissue responsible for the core functions of an organ or plant part.

In plants, parenkimaa (parenchyma) forms the most common tissue type in soft plant parts. Parenkima cells are typically living at maturity, with thin primary walls and relatively unspecialized, polygonal shapes. They are capable of division and regeneration, contributing to growth and wound repair. Specialized forms include chlorenchyma, which contains chloroplasts and carries out photosynthesis; storage parenchyma, which stores starch, oils, or water; and aerenchyma, which contains extensive air spaces to aid buoyancy and gas exchange in aquatic or waterlogged species. Parenkima tissue is widely distributed in leaves, stems, roots, fruits, and tubers, forming the bulk of many photosynthetic and storage tissues.

In animals, parenkumaa refers to the functional tissue of an organ, consisting of the cells that carry out the organ’s primary tasks. This contrasts with stroma, which provides support and structure. Examples include hepatic parenchyma (liver tissue composed mainly of hepatocytes), renal parenchyma (functional kidney tissue), and pulmonary parenchyma (gas-exchanging tissue in the lungs). In pathology, parenkumaa is often described in terms of disease involvement, such as parenchymal damage or parenchymal disease, to distinguish functional tissue from supportive or vascular components.

See also: parenchyma, stroma.