Gas Exchange and Leaf Adaptations

Flashcards about gas exchange and leaf adaptations for photosynthesis.

Inner walls of guard cells

The uneven thickening of these causes guard cells to bend when they swell.

Thin structure with transparent cuticle and upper epidermis

Leaf adaptation that allows light to penetrate and gases to diffuse efficiently.

Palisade cells

Leaf cells packed with chloroplasts and densely stacked for photosynthesis.

Spongy mesophyll

Type of mesophyll surrounded by air spaces for gas diffusion.

Cuticle

Waxy layer reducing water loss by evaporation.

Upper epidermis

Transparent layer allowing light penetration.

Stomata

Pores allowing gas exchange down a concentration gradient.

Guard cells

Cells that open and close stomata.

Vascular bundle

Contains xylem, phloem, and bundle sheath parenchyma.

Palisade mesophyll

Main photosynthetic layer packed with chloroplasts.

Lower epidermis

Leaf layer where gas exchange occurs.