Tissues — Previous Year Questions (Class 9 Science)
Tissues are groups of similar cells that work together for a common function. Learn about plant and animal tissues that form the basic structure of organis
TL;DR: Tissues are groups of similar cells that work together for a common function. Learn about plant and animal tissues that form the basic structure of or…
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Tissues are groups of similar cells that work together for a common function. Learn about plant and animal tissues that form the basic structure of organis
Tissues — Previous Year Questions with Solutions
Q (2023, 3 marks): Define tissue and classify the main types of tissues in animals.
Answer: Tissue:
Definition: A tissue is a group of structurally and functionally similar cells that work together to perform a common function.
Four Main Types of Animal Tissues:
1. Epithelial Tissue:
- Function: Protection, absorption, secretion
- Location: Covers body surface and lines internal organs
- Example: Skin epidermis, intestinal lining
2. Connective Tissue:
- Function: Support and bind other tissues
- Contains fibers and ground substance
- Example: Bone, cartilage, blood, fat
3. Muscular Tissue:
- Function: Movement and contraction
- Types: Skeletal, cardiac, smooth muscle
- Example: Muscles that move limbs
4. Nervous Tissue:
- Function: Transmit electrical impulses
- Contains neurons and glial cells
- Example: Brain, spinal cord, nerves
Q (2022, 4 marks): Describe the structure and function of epithelial tissue. Give examples of different types.
Answer: Epithelial Tissue:
Structure:
- Single or multiple layers of tightly packed cells
- Little extracellular material
- Cells attach to basement membrane
- No blood vessels (avascular)
Functions:
1. Protection: Shields underlying tissues from damage
2. Absorption: Absorbs nutrients, water, gases
3. Secretion: Produces and releases substances
4. Sensation: Responds to stimuli
Types Based on Shape:
1. Squamous Epithelium:
- Flat, thin cells
- Function: Gas exchange
- Location: Lining of lungs, blood vessels
2. Cuboidal Epithelium:
- Cube-shaped cells
- Function: Secretion and absorption
- Location: Sweat glands, kidney tubules
3. Columnar Epithelium:
- Tall, cylindrical cells
- Function: Secretion and absorption
- Location: Intestinal lining, stomach
Simple vs Stratified:
- Simple: Single layer
- Stratified: Multiple layers for protection (e.g., skin epidermis)
Q (2024, 4 marks): Explain the structure and types of connective tissue.
Answer: Connective Tissue:
Structure:
- Cells scattered in extracellular matrix
- Matrix contains fibers: collagen (tensile strength) and elastic fibers (flexibility)
- Rich in blood vessels (vascular)
- Provide support and bind other tissues
Main Types:
1. Loose Connective Tissue (Areolar):
- Cells loosely arranged
- Abundant ground substance
- Function: Packing between organs, insulation
- Location: Under skin (subcutaneous layer)
2. Dense Connective Tissue:
- Tightly packed fibers
- Function: Provides tensile strength
- Location: Tendons, ligaments
3. Bone (Osseous Tissue):
- Hardened matrix with minerals (calcium, phosphorus)
- Function: Support, protection, movement
- Contains osteocytes in lacunae
- Location: Skeleton
4. Cartilage:
- Firm, flexible matrix
- Contains chondrocytes in lacunae
- Function: Support, reduces friction
- Location: Ears, nose, joints
5. Blood:
- Fluid connective tissue
- RBCs, WBCs, platelets in plasma
- Function: Transport oxygen, nutrients, defense
- Location: Circulatory system
Q (2023, 3 marks): Describe the types of muscular tissue and their characteristics.
Answer: Muscular Tissue:
Functions:
- Movement of body and body parts
- Maintaining posture
- Generating heat
- Propelling food and blood
Three Types:
1. Skeletal Muscle (Striated):
- Appearance: Dark and light bands (striations)
- Control: Voluntary (under conscious control)
- Location: Attached to bones
- Function: Body movement
- Characteristics: Quick contractions
2. Cardiac Muscle (Striated):
- Appearance: Striations present with intercalated discs
- Control: Involuntary (automatic)
- Location: Heart wall only
- Function: Pumping blood
- Characteristics: Synchronized contractions, branched
3. Smooth Muscle (Non-striated):
- Appearance: No striations, uniform appearance
- Control: Involuntary (automatic)
- Location: Walls of internal organs, blood vessels
- Function: Peristalsis, vasoconstriction
- Characteristics: Slow, sustained contractions
Comparison Table:
Feature | Skeletal | Cardiac | Smooth
Control | Voluntary | Involuntary | Involuntary
Location | Bones | Heart | Organs, vessels
Contraction | Fast | Moderate | Slow
Fatigue | Yes | No | No
Q (2022, 4 marks): Explain the main types of plant tissues and their functions.
Answer: Plant Tissues:
1. Meristematic Tissue:
- Characteristics: Actively dividing, undifferentiated cells
- Function: Growth and development
- Types:
a) Apical meristem: Root and shoot tips (height growth)
b) Lateral meristem: Cambium (girth/width growth)
c) Intercalary meristem: Stem nodes (leaf growth)
2. Permanent/Dermal Tissue:
- Characteristics: Outer protective layer
- Function: Protection, gas exchange, water absorption
- Includes: Epidermis, guard cells, root hairs
- Location: Outermost layer of roots, stems, leaves
3. Ground/Fundamental Tissue:
- Characteristics: Cells between dermal and vascular tissue
- Types:
a) Parenchyma: Photosynthesis, storage
b) Collenchyma: Support (flexible), found in petioles and stems
c) Sclerenchyma: Support (rigid), found in seed coats, nut shells
4. Vascular Tissue:
- Function: Transport of water, minerals, and food
- Types:
a) Xylem: Transports water and minerals (acentric)
b) Phloem: Transports sugars and nutrients (bidirectional)
- Location: Running through roots, stems, leaves
Q (2024, 3 marks): What is the difference between xylem and phloem?
Answer: Xylem:
1. Composition:
- Vessel elements and tracheids (main conducting cells)
- Fibers and parenchyma
- Dead cells at maturity
2. Function:
- Transports water and minerals from roots to leaves
- Also provides structural support
3. Direction of Transport:
- Unidirectional (always upward)
- Acentric transport
4. Cell Walls:
- Thick, lignified (woody)
Phloem:
1. Composition:
- Sieve tubes and companion cells (main conducting cells)
- Fibers and parenchyma
- Living cells at maturity
2. Function:
- Transports sugars and amino acids from leaves to all parts
- Transports stored food from storage organs
3. Direction of Transport:
- Bidirectional (both directions)
- Can transport simultaneously in opposite directions
4. Cell Walls:
- Thin, cellulosic
Key Difference:
Xylem = Water and minerals (upward)
Phloem = Sugars and organic compounds (both directions)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are tight junctions important in epithelial tissues?
Tight junctions seal adjacent epithelial cells together, preventing passage of materials between cells. This is crucial for tissues that need to control what passes through them (like intestinal epithelium for selective absorption) and for maintaining separate fluid compartments in the body.
What is the difference between simple and compound tissues in plants?
Simple tissues are composed of only one type of cell (e.g., parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma), while compound tissues consist of more than one type of cell working together (e.g., xylem contains vessel elements, tracheids, fibers, and parenchyma; phloem contains sieve tubes, companion cells, fibers, and parenchyma).
More Class 9 Science PYQs
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- Light (Reflection and Refraction)
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- Metals and Non-metals
- Life Processes
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