Invertebrate anatomy
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This topic is discussed in the following articles:
  • anatomy of

    • Cnidaria

      cnidarian: Tissues and muscles
      Cnidarians consist of two cell layers: an outer ectoderm and an inner endoderm (the gastrodermis) that lines the coelenteron. Between these is sandwiched the mesoglea, a largely noncellular layer composed of a jellylike material permeated by a complex network of supporting fibres that may be microscopically thin or very thick. The fibres and jelly are elastic. In medusae, mesoglea comprises the...
      skeleton: Semirigid structures
      The mesoglea layer, which lies between the ectoderm and the endoderm (the innermost tissue layer) of coelenterates, is thin in small species and massive in large ones. It forms a flexible skeleton, associated with supporting muscle fibres on both the ectodermal and endodermal sides. In many branched alcyonarians, or soft corals, the mesoglea is filled with calcareous spicules, which are not...
    • Ctenophora

      ctenophore: Form and function.
      ...cells, which also line the pharynx. A second thin layer of cells, constituting the endoderm, lines the gastrovascular cavity. Between the ectoderm and the endoderm is a thick gelatinous layer, the mesoglea. Because it contains not only many mesenchymal cells (or unspecialized connective tissue) but also specialized cells (e.g., muscle cells), the mesoglea forms a true mesoderm. In this...
    • jellyfish

    • Radiata

      animal: Radiata: a tissue level of organization
      Coelenterates, like parazoans, have only two body layers, an inner endoderm primarily for feeding and an outer ectoderm for protection. Between the endoderm and the ectoderm of coelenterates is the mesoglea, a gelatinous mass that contains connective fibres of collagen and usually some cells. Both layers contain muscle fibres and a two-dimensional web of nerve cells at the base; the endoderm...
  • fed by circulatory system

    circulatory system: General features of circulation
  • relationship to muscle

    muscle: Cnidarians
    ...end attaches to a plant or some other support, and the other end is free and has a mouth surrounded by tentacles. The body wall consists of two layers of cells with a middle gelatinous layer called mesoglea. In hydras and other two-layered animals, one kind of cell serves as both muscle and epithelial cells. The compact body of each cell is packed closely with the adjacent cells to form an...
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