— parenchymal, parenchymatous /par'euhng kim"euh teuhs/ , adj.
/peuh reng"keuh meuh/ , n.
1. Bot. the fundamental tissue of plants, composed of thin-walled cells able to divide.
2. Anat. , Zool. the specific tissue of an animal organ as distinguished from its connective or supporting tissue.
3. Zool. a type of soft, spongy connective tissue of certain invertebrates, as the flatworms.
4. Pathol. the functional tissue of a morbid growth.
[ 1645-55; parénchyma lit., something poured in beside, equiv. to par- PAR- + énchyma infusion; see EN- 2 , CHYME ]