vessel element A tracheary cell with thickened walls and perforation plates at either end, many vessel elements being joined end to end in xylem to form a vessel. See TRACHEA and TRACHEID.

vessel element A type of cell occurring within the xylem of flowering plants, many of which, end to end, form water-conducting vessels. Vessel elements are frequently very broad and have side walls thickened by deposits of lignin over most of the surface area. However, the end walls are broken down to provide connections with the cells both above and below them. Compare tracheid.