parenchyma

 
Pronunciation: /pəˈrɛŋkɪmə/

noun

[mass noun] Anatomy
  • the functional tissue of an organ as distinguished from the connective and supporting tissue: the liver parenchyma
  • Botany the cellular tissue, typically soft and succulent, found chiefly in the softer parts of leaves, pulp of fruits, bark and pith of stems, etc.: xylem parenchyma cells
  • Zoology cellular tissue lying between the body wall and the organs of invertebrate animals lacking a coelom, such as flatworms.

Derivatives

parenchymal

adjective (chiefly Anatomy)

parenchymatous

Pronunciation: /-ˈkɪmətəs/
adjective (chiefly Botany)

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Greek parenkhuma 'something poured in besides', from para- 'beside' + enkhuma 'infusion'