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Question
Explain body cavity or coelom in animals.
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Solution
A coelom is a body cavity. It is found in organisms with bilateral symmetry. Bilateral symmetry means that if you cut that organism from the middle, you will get two equal halves. The body is obviously made of layers upon layers of cells, and these cells are organized into a tube within a tube structure. The inner tube is the digestive system it is hollow and it's where all the food will enter (from the mouth) and exit (from the anal orifice). The outer tube is the visible outer body. The space between these two tubes is the coelom and is filled with cells and fluid. When there is no space between the two tubes the organism is called Acoelomate like Platyhelminthes e.g. Tapeworm, a liver fluke. Next are Pseudocoelomate (pseudo means false), they have a cavity between the two tubes and mesoderm lines the inner aspect of the outer tube, the mesoderm doesn’t line the outer aspect of the inner tube. Hence you get an organization where inside the body the organs are very loosely held due to the lack of that extra mesoderm layer. Like in Aschelminthes e.g. Roundworm. Coelomate animals have a "true" body cavity or coelom and organs are in caged in peritoneal membrane.
Functions of the coelom.- Movement: coelom is the body cavity, and in this cavity all the organs are present. These organs need a little movement like the beating of the heart, expansion of the lungs. So if the space between the two tubes is completely filled with cells as in acoelomates these movements would not be possible.
- Nutrition and protection: the coelom has coelomic fluid which contains nutrition which can diffuse to the tissue surrounding them providing those tissues with fuel to work. Also the fluid contains cells important for the immunity of the host.
- Lubricant: for lack of better word, the fluid will act as a lubricant, reducing the friction that arises as a result of constant movement and interaction between the organs.
A coelom is a body cavity. It is found in organisms with bilateral symmetry. Bilateral symmetry means that if you cut that organism from the middle, you will get two equal halves. The body is obviously made of layers upon layers of cells, and these cells are organized into a tube within a tube structure. The inner tube is the digestive system it is hollow and it's where all the food will enter (from the mouth) and exit (from the anal orifice). The outer tube is the visible outer body. The space between these two tubes is the coelom and is filled with cells and fluid. When there is no space between the two tubes the organism is called Acoelomate like Platyhelminthes e.g. Tapeworm, a liver fluke. Next are Pseudocoelomate (pseudo means false), they have a cavity between the two tubes and mesoderm lines the inner aspect of the outer tube, the mesoderm doesn’t line the outer aspect of the inner tube. Hence you get an organization where inside the body the organs are very loosely held due to the lack of that extra mesoderm layer. Like in Aschelminthes e.g. Roundworm. Coelomate animals have a "true" body cavity or coelom and organs are in caged in peritoneal membrane.
Functions of the coelom.
- Movement: coelom is the body cavity, and in this cavity all the organs are present. These organs need a little movement like the beating of the heart, expansion of the lungs. So if the space between the two tubes is completely filled with cells as in acoelomates these movements would not be possible.
- Nutrition and protection: the coelom has coelomic fluid which contains nutrition which can diffuse to the tissue surrounding them providing those tissues with fuel to work. Also the fluid contains cells important for the immunity of the host.
- Lubricant: for lack of better word, the fluid will act as a lubricant, reducing the friction that arises as a result of constant movement and interaction between the organs.
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