Table of Contents
What is the body structure of a sponge?
The body of a sponge consists of jelly-like material (mesohyl) made mainly of collagen and reinforced by a dense network of fibres also made of collagen. sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. Many also have a skeleton made up of spicules of calcium carbonate or silica.
What makes up the skeleton of a sponge?
Sponge skeletons are made of rod-like silica structures called spicules that are cemented to rocks and to each other with collagen.
What does a sponge contain?
Many sponges have internal skeletons of spongin and/or spicules of calcium carbonate or silica. Primarily, their body consists of a thin sheet of cells over a frame (skeleton). As their name suggests, Poriferans are characterized by the presence of minute pores called ostia on their body.
What is the basic body plan of a sponge?
The most basic body plan is called asconoid. In asconoid sponges the two major cell layers surround a fluid-filled cavity called the spongocoel, the large central cavity of sponges .
What are the 4 types of cells in a sponge?
All sponges have four specialized cell types.
- choanocytes – flagellated collar cells generate water current.
- pinacocytes – form the outer pinacoderm.
- porocytes – tubular cells form incurrent pores.
- archaeocytes/amoebocytes – roving scavenger cells. that facilitate digestion and feed other cells.
What are the three body plans for a sponge?
There are three different body plans found among sponges: asconoid, synconoid, and leuconoid. Sponge feeding is critically dependent on several specialized cells within the organism including the following: choanocytes, amoebocytes, and porocytes.
Which sponge body plan is the most efficient?
Leuconoid body type is the most advanced body form of sponges and is the most efficient circulation system in larger sponges to deliver oxygen and nutrients. Further reading: Coelom.
What kind of structure does a sponge have?
They have flagella, whip-like structures that work to set up water currents so the sponge can sieve food particles from the water. The water comes in through an inhalant pore and leaves the sponge via an exhalant pore.
How are sponges unique in the animal kingdom?
Specialised Cells: Sponges have special collar cells (or choanocytes) that are unique in the animal kingdom. They have flagella, whip-like structures that work to set up water currents so the sponge can sieve food particles from the water. The water comes in through an inhalant pore and leaves the sponge via an exhalant pore.
Where does the water enter the sponge body?
Pinacocytes are the epidermal or “skin” cells on the outer surface of sponges. Porocytes are cylindrical cells that make up the pores or ostia. Water enters the animal through the pores formed by these cells. The flow of water into the sponge body is not only crucial for feeding and digestion, but also for circulation within the sponge.
How are sponges able to regulate water flow?
Although sponges have no muscle tissue and are sessile organisms, they do have muscle-like cells called myocytes. Myocytes surround canal openings and porocytes. These cells are able to contract in order to regulate water flow through the body.