Home

Biology

Organisation

Plant cell organisation

Plant cell organisation

Select Lesson

Exam Board

AQA trilogy combined

OCR gateway tripleOCR gateway combinedAQA tripleAQA trilogy combinedPearson Edexcel triplePearson Edexcel combined

Explainer Video

Tutor: Priya

Summary

Plant cell organisation

In a nutshell

Plant cells are organised into tissues and organs, just like animals. The leaf is the site of photosynthesis and gas exchange in plants.



Plants

In a plant, several organs work together and form an organ system. The leaves, stems and roots are all organs which work together to transport important substances around the plant. These plant organs are made from various tissues which have specific properties:


Tissue

Property

Xylem and phloem
These transport substances around the plant.

Examples
Water, minerals and food.
Palisade mesophyll tissue
This is where most photosynthesis occurs. It is a part of the leaf.
Spongy mesophyll tissue
This has large air spaces, allowing gases to diffuse into and out of the cells. It is also a part of the leaf.
Epidermal tissue
This covers the entire plant.
Meristem tissue
This is located at the growing tips of the roots and shoots.



Leaf structure

The leaf is the site of photosynthesis and gas exchange in the plant. The structures of tissues in the leaf all have an important function:


Biology; Organisation; KS4 Year 10; Plant cell organisation



Adaptation

Description

1.
Transparent waxy cuticle 
Also allows light to pass through to the chloroplasts.
2.
Transparent epidermis cells
Allows light to pass through to the chloroplasts.
3.
Tightly packed mesophyll cells
Palisade mesophyll cells are located at the top of the leaf and they contain lots of chloroplasts which maximises photosynthesis.
4.
Spongy mesophyll
The spongy mesophyll contains air spaces (8.) which increase the rate of diffusion of gases.
5.
Phloem
The phloem tubes transport the glucose that is made during photosynthesis away from the leaf.
6.
Xylem
The xylem tubes transport water from the roots to the leaf for photosynthesis.
7.
Stomata
These pores allow carbon dioxide to diffuse into the leaf from the air and oxygen to diffuse out of the cells.


The leaf is also thin, this allows air to surround most of the cells. This means gas exchange can take place over a larger surface area.

Read more

Learn with Basics

Length:
Cell organisation and diffusion

Cell organisation and diffusion

Cell organisation

Cell organisation

Jump Ahead

Plant cell organisation

Plant cell organisation

Final Test

Create an account to complete the exercises

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

Where does photosynthesis happen?

How does the upper dermis layer support photosynthesis?

What organs are in a plant?