Stroma (tissue)

Stroma
Prostate under a microscope This image shows the microscopic glands of the prostate
Details
Part ofConnective tissue
Identifiers
Latinstroma
THH2.00.00.0.00003
FMA81494 81494, 81494
Anatomical terminology

Stroma (from Ancient Greek στρῶμα 'layer, bed, bed covering') is the part of a tissue or organ with a structural or connective role. It is made up of all the parts without specific functions of the organ - for example, connective tissue, blood vessels, ducts, etc. The other part, the parenchyma, consists of the cells that perform the function of the tissue or organ.[1]

There are multiple ways of classifying tissues: one classification scheme is based on tissue functions and another analyzes their cellular components. Stromal tissue falls into the "functional" class that contributes to the body's support and movement. The cells which make up stroma tissues serve as a matrix in which the other cells are embedded.[2] Stroma is made of various types of stromal cells.

Examples of stroma include:

  1. ^ "SIU SOM Histology INTRO". www.siumed.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-06.
  2. ^ "tissue | biology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-10-06.