sto
ma
Plural
stomas
1
a mouth or mouthlike opening (especially one created by surgery on the surface of the body to create an opening to an internal organ)
2
a microscopic pore found on the surface of leaves and stems of plants, involved in gas exchange, including the uptake of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen and water vapor
- Each stoma on the leaf's surface opens and closes to regulate the plant's water balance.
- The number of stomata per square inch on a leaf is influenced by environmental conditions.
- Botanists study the structure of the stoma to understand how plants adapt to different climates.
- The guard cells surrounding the stoma control its opening and closing in response to light and humidity.
- The stoma provides a pathway for gases to move in and out of the plant's tissues during photosynthesis.