parenchymatous

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   consisting of, relating to, or affecting parenchyma, the functional or softer tissue of an organ

   The parasite spread through the parenchymatous tissue of the liver.

2. 2
   adj

   botany: composed of relatively unspecialized, thin-walled plant cells that perform functions such as storage or photosynthesis

   The leaf's parenchymatous layer contained abundant chloroplasts.

From parenchyma + -tous. Parenchyma comes through New Latin from Greek parenkhyma, 'something poured in beside,' built from para-, 'beside,' en-, 'in,' and khein, 'to pour.' Early anatomists used it for the soft substance filling the spaces within organs.

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