Animal Tissues vs Plant Tissues - Comparison & Summery

What Are Animal Tissues and Plant Tissues?

Animals and plants have structurally and functionally different tissues because they serve a role in two entirely different kinds of organisms. Animals have tissues that are adapted toward locomotion, sensory response, and internal regulatory mechanisms, whereas in plants, tissues exist to facilitate photosynthesis, transport water, and provide structural rigidity.

Animal Tissue

There are four types of animal tissues :

• Epithelial tissue

• Muscular tissue

• Connective tissue

• Nerve tissue

Epithelial Tissue

Epithelial tissues sit on a basement membrane containing the acellular matrix protein collagen. It covers the outside of the body and the internal organs. It lines the body cavity. It covers the outer surface of the skin, the inner lining of the mouth, the digestive tract, the nose, and the lungs. They are protective in nature. They are subdivided into four types

• Squamous epithelial tissue

• Stratified epithelial tissue

• Cuboidal epithelial tissue

• Columnar epithelial tissue

Muscular Tissue

Muscular tissue makes up the muscles of our body and allows them to contract and relax. They are made up of muscle cells. The contractile proteins it contains help contract and relax, leading to movement and locomotion. They form three types of muscle named as

• Skeletal muscle tissue

• Smooth muscle tissue

• Cardiac muscle tissue

Connective Tissue

Connective tissue is a specialized tissue that holds body tissues together. It consists of a small percentage of cells and a large amount of extracellular material that separates them. Different types of connective tissue include areolar tissue, adipose tissue (fat), blood, lymph, bone, and cartilage. They connect and support organs and transport substances between them.

Nervous Tissue

Nervous tissues are made up of specialized cells called nerve cells (neurons). They conduct and transmit electrochemical impulses between neurons.

Plant Tissue

Plant tissues can be roughly divided into two

• Meristematic tissue

• Permanent tissue

Meristematic Tissue

Meristematic tissue is composed of a collection of dividing cells. These tissues are composed of small, cuboidal, tightly packed cells that constantly divide to form new cells. Depending on where it is found, the meristematic tissue can belong to three different types :

• Apical meristems

• Lateral meristems

• Intercalary meristems

Permanent Tissue

Permanent tissue is a derivative of meristematic tissue. They do not have the ability to divide, but they support other functions such as material conduction, food storage, etc. There are two types of permanent tissues in plants: simple permanent tissues and compound permanent tissues. Simple permanent tissues include parenchyma, dura, and sclerosis, and complex tissues include xylem and phloem.

Difference Between Plant and Animal Tissues

The difference between animal tissue and plant tissue can be highlighted based on several factors:

Tips & Tricks

Given below are some tips and tricks to prepare for the animal and plant tissues:

Diagrams and Tables: Try drawing diagrams of all the animal and plant tissue types. You will often be asked to label or describe these in an exam.

Mnemonics: Mnemonics will also enable you to remember the types of tissues. To remember, plant tissues take "PMS" as an acronym of Parenchyma, Meristematic, and Sclerenchyma.

Videos and Animations: Watching animations on plant and animal tissues can give you an idea of how they work, especially the vascular system in plants and nervous tissue in animals.

Examples Applied to Daily Life: Animal and plant tissues may be related to your own life experience which can make it harder to forget. For example, you can relate muscle tissues to the contraction of muscles in a simple movement or to the crunchy parts of celery, which contain collenchyma.

Exam Relevance

The table given below indicates the weightage of questions asked on Animal vs. plant tissues in different exams:

Animal vs Plant Tissue NEET MCQs

Q1. Simple and Compound Epithelium are two types of Epithelia classified on the basis of

1. Shape of cells

2. Number of layers resting on Basement membrane

3. Function of Epithelia

4. Both 1 and 2

Correct answer: 2) Number of layers resting on Basement membrane

Explanation:

The classification of Simple and compound epithelium is according to the number of cell layers that lie on the basement membrane. The simple epithelium consists of only a single layer of cells and compound epithelium consists of more than one layer of cells that lie on a basement membrane.

Hence the correct answer is option 2) Number of layers resting on the Basement membrane.

Q2. The quiescent center is present in the

1. Apical meristem

2. Shoot meristem

3. Lateral meristem

4. Root meristem

Correct answer: 4) Root meristem

Explanation:

The root meristem contains a quiescent center, which serves as a reservoir of relatively inactive or slowly dividing cells and not dead cells. These cells maintain the ability to divide and regenerate the surrounding actively dividing cells of the meristem. The quiescent center plays a vital role in maintaining the stem cell population and ensuring the continuous growth of the root.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) root meristem.

Q3. Junction between epithelial cells and Basement membrane is

1. Tight junction

2. Gap junction

3. Desmosomes

4. Hemidesmosomes

Correct answer: 4) Hemidesmosomes

Explanation:

Hemidesmosomes are specialized adhesive structures found at the interface between epithelial cells and the underlying basement membrane. Unlike desmosomes, which connect adjacent cells, hemidesmosomes anchor the basal surface of epithelial cells to the extracellular matrix, specifically the basement membrane. This connection is crucial for maintaining tissue integrity and providing mechanical stability to epithelial tissues. Hemidesmosomes consist of integrins, which are transmembrane proteins that bind to laminin in the basement membrane, and other intracellular proteins like plectin and dystonin, which link the integrins to the cytoskeleton, particularly intermediate filaments such as keratin. These structures play a key role in resisting shear forces and maintaining the structural cohesion between cells and the underlying extracellular matrix.

Hence the correct answer is option 4) Hemidesmosomes.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Epithelial Tissue

• MCQs on Meristematic Tissue and its Types

• Structural Organisation in Animals

FAQs on Animal vs Plant Tissue

What are animal tissues?

Animal tissues are groups of specialized cells in animals that are similar in structure and function and work together to perform specific tasks. They form the structural framework of the body and help in protection, support, movement, coordination, and transport of materials. Since animals lack cell walls, their tissues are more flexible and specialized. The four main types of animal tissues are epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissues, each with distinct functions.

What are plant tissues?

Plant tissues are collections of cells in plants that perform specific functions such as support, transport, photosynthesis, and growth. They are broadly classified into meristematic tissues (responsible for growth) and permanent tissues (for protection, conduction, and storage). Plant tissues usually have a rigid cell wall made of cellulose, which provides mechanical strength. Examples include xylem and phloem (vascular tissues) for transport, and parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma for support.

What are the differences between plant and animal tissues?

What are the types of animal tissues?

These tissues ensure the structural organization and functional efficiency of the animal body. Animal tissues are categorized into four main types:

1. Epithelial tissue – covers body surfaces and lines organs, providing protection and absorption.

2. Connective tissue – binds, supports, and connects body parts (examples: bone, blood, cartilage, adipose).

3. Muscular tissue – enables movement, either voluntary (skeletal muscles) or involuntary (smooth and cardiac muscles).

4. Nervous tissue – composed of neurons, it transmits impulses and coordinates body functions.