coelom
Sign in to saveThe coelom (or celom) is the main body cavity in many animals and is positioned inside the body to surround and contain the digestive tract and other organs. In some animals, it is lined with mesothelium. In other animals, such as molluscs, it remains undifferentiated. In the past, and for practical purposes, coelom characteristics have been used to classify bilaterian animal phyla into informal groups.
Key facts
- Anatomy.Name
- Coelom
- Anatomy.Greek
- koilōma
- Anatomy.Image
- Annelid redone w white background.svg
- Anatomy.Caption
- Cross-section of an oligochaete worm. The worm's body cavity surrounds the central digestive tract.
- Anatomy.pronunciation
- ( , plural coeloms or coelomata )
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Structure
- Development
- Origins
- Functions
- Coelomic fluid
- Classification in zoology
- Coelomates
- Coelomate phyla
- Pseudocoelomates
- Pseudocoelomate phyla
- Acoelomates
- See also
- References
- Further reading
The coelom (or celom) is the main body cavity in many animals and is positioned inside the body to surround and contain the digestive tract and other organs. In some animals, it is lined with mesothelium. In other animals, such as molluscs, it remains undifferentiated. In the past, and for practical purposes, coelom characteristics have been used to classify bilaterian animal phyla into informal groups.
== Etymology == The term coelom derives from the Ancient Greek word () 'cavity'.