The Starfish Dissection
Tutorial
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to
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- Aboral Surface
The front side of the starfish on the opposite side of
the mouth.-
- Ambulacral Spines
Joined together by membranes to form a fan-like area
along each side of the ambulacral grooves.
- Ampulla
Small muscular sax that bulge into the aboral side of the
coelom.-
- Arms
There are normally five arms, not by the branching of the
original ten arms, but the budding of new arms following
the shedding of the original ones.
- Axial Glands
Breaks up nutritious matter so it can be used by the
organs.
- (empty)
Cardiac Stomach
- Linked to the esophagus, the caradiac stomach is a
stomach that covers almost all of the disc.
- (empty)
- (empty)
- (empty)
Gonads
- Starfish's sex organ. When filled with egg or sperm, they
fill the whole arm, depending on the time of spawning.
Resemble grapes.
- (empty)
- (empty)
- (empty)
- (empty)
- (empty)
- Mouth
An opening to receive food.
- (empty)
- Oral Surface
The other half of the body wall which contains calcareous
plates, which are unique among invertibrae skeletons.
This is formed by and lodged in the mesoderm layer.
- Pedicellariae
Eruptions from the skin which in turn form spines, and
pincer-like, food grasping, and skin cleansing tools.
(Note these functions are only in asteroids and
echinoids.)
Pyloric Stomach
- A smaller stomach which gives nutrition to the body
walls.
- (empty)
Radial Canal
- Canal that gives structure to the arms.
Rectal Pouches
- Hold waste products and prepares them to go out the anus.
- Sieve Plate (Madreporite)
Covered by a protective layer of the body's surface. The
bottom of each furrow contains pores (as many as 250) and
canals constructed like a sieve located near the center
disc.-
- Skin Gills (Dermal Branchiae)
Soft bumps on the skin between the spines.
Stone Canal
- Canal that descends to the oral side of the starfish.
- Tube Feet (Podium)
Suctorials (like a suction cup) which help the starfish
to walk on the sea floor. These feet are located on the
ambulacral grooves.
- (empty)
- (empty)
Water Vascular System
- System of canals and appendages of the body wall. Lined
with ciliated epithelium. Acts as a hydraulic system
during movement.
- (empty)
- (empty)
- (empty)
Revised: August 03, 1997.
Copyright © 1995 by [SomeOrganization].
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