GUARD CELLS Meaning and
Definition
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Guard cells are specialized cells found in the epidermis of plant leaves and stems that play a crucial role in regulating the opening and closing of stomata. Stomata are small pores on the surface of plants that allow for the exchange of gases, such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, as well as the release of water vapor during a process known as transpiration.
Guard cells form kidney-shaped structures surrounding the stomata, and they are characterized by having thickened walls on the inside and thin-walled on the outside. This differential structure allows guard cells to change their shape and control the opening and closing of stomata. When guard cells become turgid, meaning they are filled with water, they swell and create an opening between them, leading to the opening of the stomata. Conversely, when guard cells lose water and become flaccid, they shrink and close the stomata.
The opening and closing of stomata by guard cells are regulated by various factors, including light intensity, humidity levels, temperature, and the concentration of carbon dioxide. Through this regulation, guard cells help plants balance the intake of carbon dioxide required for photosynthesis with the loss of water vapor during transpiration, optimizing plant growth and survival. Guard cells are therefore crucial for maintaining the proper gas exchange and water balance within plants, enabling them to respond to changing environmental conditions.
Common Misspellings for GUARD CELLS
- fuard cells
- vuard cells
- buard cells
- huard cells
- yuard cells
- tuard cells
- gyard cells
- ghard cells
- gjard cells
- giard cells
- g8ard cells
- g7ard cells
- guzrd cells
- gusrd cells
- guwrd cells
- guqrd cells
- guaed cells
- guadd cells
- guafd cells
- guatd cells
Etymology of GUARD CELLS
The word "guard cells" has its etymology rooted in the Latin language. It comes from the Latin word "guardare", meaning "to guard", and the Latin word "cella", which means "small room" or "cell". The term "guard cells" was coined to describe the specialized cells found in the epidermis of plants, particularly in the leaf stomata, which act as gates by opening and closing to regulate gas exchange and water vapor loss in plants.
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