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Tamil Nadu (TNBSE)Class 10 Science★ 5-9 marks in the TN SSLC Class 10 Science public exam through MCQs, diagrams, short and long answers

Plant Anatomy and Plant Physiology

Samacheer Kalvi (TN State Board) Class 10 Science — Biology Chapter 12, Plant Anatomy and Plant Physiology. Plant tissue systems, the internal structure of dicot and monocot roots, stems and leaves, and plant physiology — photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration. Notes with diagrams-in-words, common mistakes, practice and quick revision.

⏱ 22 min readMedium difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Name and describe the three plant tissue systems
2Distinguish dicot and monocot internal structures
3Write and explain the photosynthesis equation
4Differentiate aerobic and anaerobic respiration
5Explain transpiration and its uses

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Why this chapter matters

This chapter links plant structure with the life processes of photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration. Diagrams of dicot/monocot sections and the photosynthesis equation are frequent, dependable marks in the TN SSLC exam.

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A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 9 Science — Plant tissues

Basic plant tissues and cells.

Plant Anatomy and Plant Physiology — Class 10 Science (Samacheer Kalvi)

TN State Board (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 10 Science, Biology — Chapter 12. The internal structure of plants and the life processes that keep them alive.

1. About this chapter

This chapter has two parts: anatomy (internal structure — tissue systems, root, stem, leaf of dicots and monocots) and physiology (life processes — photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration).

2. Plant tissue systems

Epidermal tissue system: outer protective layer (epidermis, cuticle, stomata, root hairs).
Ground tissue system: parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma — support and storage.
Vascular tissue system: xylem (water transport) and phloem (food transport).

3. Internal structure (anatomy)

Dicot root vs monocot root, dicot stem vs monocot stem, and leaf show characteristic arrangements of vascular bundles.
In a dicot stem the vascular bundles are arranged in a ring; in a monocot stem they are scattered.

4. Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants make food using sunlight, chlorophyll, CO₂ and water. 6CO₂ + 12H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ + 6H₂O (in the chloroplast).
Two stages: light reaction (in thylakoids; produces ATP, NADPH, O₂) and dark reaction / Calvin cycle (in stroma; fixes CO₂ into glucose).

5. Respiration and transpiration

Respiration: release of energy by oxidising glucose. Aerobic (with O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + much ATP); anaerobic (without O₂ → alcohol/lactic acid + little ATP).
Transpiration: loss of water vapour from the plant, mainly through stomata. It creates the transpiration pull that draws water up the xylem and cools the plant.

6. Common mistakes

Mistake: Saying photosynthesis happens in mitochondria. Fix: Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts; respiration occurs in mitochondria.
Mistake: Confusing xylem and phloem. Fix: Xylem carries water (upward); phloem carries food (both ways).
Mistake: Treating transpiration as wasteful only. Fix: It drives water transport and cools the plant.

7. Practice (book-back style)

Name the three plant tissue systems.
Write the overall equation of photosynthesis.
Differentiate the vascular bundle arrangement in dicot and monocot stems.
Differentiate aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
What is transpiration and why is it useful?

8. Answer key

Epidermal, ground and vascular tissue systems.
6CO₂ + 12H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ + 6H₂O (light, chlorophyll).
Dicot stem: bundles in a ring; monocot stem: bundles scattered.
Aerobic uses O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + much ATP; anaerobic without O₂ → alcohol/lactic acid + little ATP.
Loss of water vapour through stomata; it creates transpiration pull and cools the plant.

9. Quick revision

Biology Ch 12 · tissue systems, anatomy, photosynthesis, respiration.
Tissue systems: epidermal, ground, vascular (xylem + phloem).
Photosynthesis in chloroplast: light reaction + Calvin cycle.
Respiration: aerobic (much ATP) vs anaerobic (little ATP).
Transpiration through stomata → transpiration pull + cooling.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Photosynthesis

6CO₂ + 12H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ + 6H₂O

In chloroplast, needs light and chlorophyll.

Tissue systems

epidermal, ground, vascular

Vascular = xylem + phloem.

Aerobic respiration

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy

Occurs in mitochondria.

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying photosynthesis happens in mitochondria

✓ Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts; respiration in mitochondria.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing xylem and phloem

✓ Xylem carries water upward; phloem carries food both ways.

WATCH OUT

✗ Treating transpiration as only wasteful

✓ It drives water transport and cools the plant.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Multiple choice questions

MCQs on tissues, anatomy and physiology.

Questions

Diagram / short answer

Dicot/monocot sections and photosynthesis stages.

Questions

Long answer questions

Photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration.

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Recall

Name the three plant tissue systems.

▶ Show solution

Epidermal, ground and vascular tissue systems.

Q2MEDIUM· Concept

Write the overall equation of photosynthesis.

▶ Show solution

6CO₂ + 12H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ + 6H₂O (in presence of light and chlorophyll).

Q3MEDIUM· Comparison

Differentiate the vascular bundles of dicot and monocot stems.

▶ Show solution

In a dicot stem the bundles are arranged in a ring; in a monocot stem they are scattered.

Q4MEDIUM· Comparison

Differentiate aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

▶ Show solution

Aerobic uses oxygen, giving CO₂, water and much ATP; anaerobic occurs without oxygen, giving alcohol or lactic acid and little ATP.

Q5EASY· Concept

What is transpiration and why is it useful?

▶ Show solution

Loss of water vapour through stomata; it creates the transpiration pull that lifts water and cools the plant.

Q6EASY· Recall

Where does the light reaction of photosynthesis occur?

▶ Show solution

In the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Biology Chapter 12 of Samacheer Kalvi Class 10 Science.
•Tissue systems: epidermal, ground, vascular (xylem + phloem).
•Photosynthesis in chloroplast: light reaction + Calvin cycle.
•Equation: 6CO₂ + 12H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ + 6H₂O.
•Respiration: aerobic (much ATP) vs anaerobic (little ATP).
•Transpiration through stomata → transpiration pull and cooling.

Tamil Nadu (TNBSE) marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 5-9 marks across MCQ, diagram, short and long answers

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
MCQ	1	1-2	Tissues and processes
Short / Diagram	2-3	1-2	Anatomy and photosynthesis
Long Answer	3-5	1	Photosynthesis / respiration

Prep strategy

Learn the three tissue systems
Memorise the photosynthesis equation and its two stages
Practise dicot/monocot section diagrams
Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Agriculture

Understanding photosynthesis and transpiration improves crop yield and irrigation.

Food chains

Photosynthesis is the base of nearly all food chains and oxygen supply.

Plant identification

Anatomy distinguishes monocots from dicots.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Draw and label sections neatly
Write the photosynthesis equation with conditions
Use a table to compare aerobic/anaerobic respiration
Mention the site (chloroplast/mitochondrion) for processes

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Compare the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis.
Explain how guard cells control stomatal opening.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

TN SSLC Class 10 Public ExamHigh

Foundation / NTSE BiologyMedium

School unit testsHigh

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Questions students ask

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Xylem forms continuous tubes that, with the transpiration pull, lift water and minerals from the roots to the topmost leaves.

Dicot stems have vascular bundles arranged in a ring, while monocot stems have bundles scattered throughout the ground tissue.

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