Lesson 4 of 6
Inside a leaf
Goal: Describe the roles of palisade cells and stomata.
Cut a slice through a leaf and you find layers of cells. Each layer has its own job.
- Palisade cells do most of the photosynthesis. They are near the top of the leaf, where the light is brightest.
- Stomata are tiny pores, mostly on the underside. Carbon dioxide diffuses in through them. Oxygen and water vapour diffuse out.
- Two guard cells open and close each stoma.
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Key words in this lesson
Photosynthesis How plants and algae make glucose, using energy from light
Chloroplast The part of a plant cell where photosynthesis happens
Carbon dioxide The gas a plant takes in for photosynthesis
Oxygen The gas given out in photosynthesis
Stomata Tiny pores in a leaf that let gases in and out
Guard cells The pair of cells that open and close a stoma
Palisade cell A tall leaf cell packed with chloroplasts