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Leaf Structures: Mesophyll, Stomata, and Guard Cells

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Photosynthesis occurs mainly in the mesophyll, a leaf's chlorophyll-rich middle layer; gases exchange through pores called stomata, each controlled by a pair of guard cells.

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Guard cells swell or shrink with osmotic changes to open or close a stoma, balancing gas exchange against water loss.

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Stomata sit mainly on a leaf's underside to reduce water loss from the sun-facing upper surface.