Xylem Vessel Elements: Structure & Function
- The functions of xylem tissue in a plant are:
- Vascular tissue that transports dissolved minerals and water around the plant
- Structural support
- Food storage
- Xylem tissue is made up of four cell types that function together:
-
- Tracheids (long, narrow tapered cells with pits)
- Vessel elements (large with thickened cell walls and no end plates when mature)
- Xylem parenchyma
- Sclerenchyma cells (fibres and sclereids)
- Most of the xylem tissue is made up of tracheids and vessel elements, which are both types of water-conducting cell
Xylem tissue micrographs
Micrographs of xylem vessels allow structural lignin to be seen in both longitudinal section (A) and transverse section (B)
Drawing Xylem Tissue Diagram
Biological drawing conventions can be applied to the drawing of xylem vessels from micrographs
Relating structure to function in xylem vessel elements table
| Structure | Function |
| Lignified cell walls | Adds strength to withstand hydrostatic pressure so vessels do not collapse. Impermeable to water |
| No end plates | Allows for mass flow of water and dissolved solutes as cohesive (between water molecules) and adhesive (between water molecules and xylem wall) forces are not impeded |
| No protoplasm (cells are dead when mature) | Does not impede the mass flow of water and dissolved solutes |
| Pits in walls (in non-lignified sections) | Lateral movement of water allows for continuous flow in case of air bubbles forming in the vessel |
| Small diameter of vessels (although larger than tracheids) | Helps prevent the water column from breaking |
- Also see Comparison of xylem & phloem tissue table in Phloem Sieve Tube Elements
Examiner Tip
You must be able to recognise the xylem vessel elements in images, so look for a thicker cell wall and a larger diameter.
You should be able to draw xylem vessel elements from micrograph images. For more detail on how to make biological drawings see our revision notes here.
