Comparison between epidermal tissue of plants and epithelial tissue of animals?

Answer 1

Epidermal tissues in plants includes several differentiated cell types. They are epidermal cells, guard cells, subsidiary cells, and epidermal hair. Many plants have waxy cuticle layer deposited on top of the epidermal cells.

Epithelial tissues consist of epithelial cells which form continuous sheets that are attached to each other at many locations by tight junctions and desmosomes.

Both plant epidermal tissues and animal epithelial tissues form the most numerous and largest tissues for their specific organisms. Both plant epidermal tissues and animal epithelial tissues also are very densely packed together, leaving very little intercellular space.

The plant epidermal tissues functions in prevention of water loss and act as a barrier to fungi and other invaders. It also regulates gas exchange in plants and absorb water and minerals nutrients(especially in roots)

The epithelial tissues not only covers the external environment of plant from the external environment but also lines the surfaces of internal organs of an organisms, unlike the plant epidermal tissues that only act as barrier between external environment and external environment.Functions of epithelial tissue includes secretion, selective absorption, protection. transcellular transport and detection of sensation.

Other than that, both of the structure act mainly as protective barrier between the internal environment of living thins and the external environment.