Phylum Platyhelminthes Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is Phylum Platyhelminthes known for?

Flat shape (correct)

Aquatic habitats (correct)

Triploblastic development (correct)

Having a coelom

What does dorsoventrally mean?

Flat shape from top to bottom.

What does triploblastic refer to?

Animals that have three layers of tissue.

What is an acoelomate?

A solid-bodied animal lacking a cavity between the gut and outer body wall. Signup and view all the answers

What is strobilation?

Transverse fission in a form of asexual reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an incomplete gut?

A gastrointestinal cavity with only one opening. Signup and view all the answers

What are protonephridia?

Excretory structures found in flatworms. Signup and view all the answers

What does osmoregulatory mean?

To control internal osmolarity independent of its environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does monoecious mean?

Having both male and female reproductive organs. Signup and view all the answers

What is mesenchyme?

Embryonic connective tissue from which all tissues develop. Signup and view all the answers

What is parenchyma?

Loose connective tissues derived from mesoderm. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of Phylum Platyhelminthes?

Flattened dorsoventrally, triploblastic, acoelomate, bilaterally symmetrical. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Class Turbellaria?

Free-living flatworms, primarily aquatic. Signup and view all the answers

What are rhabdites?

Rodlike cells forming a protective mucous sheath. Signup and view all the answers

What do adhesive glands do?

They produce a chemical that helps attach the organism to a substrate. Signup and view all the answers

What are releaser glands?

Glands that secrete a chemical to dissolve attachment to a substrate. Signup and view all the answers

What is locomotion in flatworms?

Movement through the musculoskeletal and neurological systems. Signup and view all the answers

What is a protruding pharynx?

A structure that captures and transfers food to the mouth. Signup and view all the answers

What are flame cells?

Specialized cells that remove excess water from flatworm bodies. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nephridiopore?

An opening in the nephridial tube for waste fluid movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is a ganglion?

A collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

What are ocelli?

Eyespots that detect light. Signup and view all the answers

What are auricles?

Ear-like projections sensitive to chemicals and touch. Signup and view all the answers

What does regeneration mean?

The ability to regrow a missing part of the body. Signup and view all the answers

What is camouflage?

An adaptation to blend in with the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What are toxins?

Chemicals that harm tissues or trigger immune responses. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Class Monogenea?

Very small parasitic flatworms mainly found on fish. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview of Phylum Platyhelminthes

Includes flatworms, which inhabit marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments.
Characterized by a flattened body, triploblastic development, and the absence of a coelom (acoelomate).

Morphological Features

Flatworms have a dorsoventrally flattened structure.
Possess a gastrovascular cavity with an incomplete gut that has only one opening (mouth).
Some members exhibit cephalization, featuring a cerebral ganglion and longitudinal nerve cords.

Reproductive and Developmental Traits

Most species are monoecious, containing both male and female reproductive organs.
Complex reproductive systems are common, with the ability to undergo strobilation (transverse fission).

Classifications within Platyhelminthes

Class Turbellaria

Composed mainly of free-living species, totaling about 4,500 known types.
Mostly found in marine and freshwater environments, many are benthic.
Exhibit unique adaptations like rhabdites, adhesive glands, and releaser glands for survival and movement.

Specialized Structures

Protonephridia: Excretory and osmoregulatory system features, comprising networks of tubules with flame cells to manage water balance.
Flame Cells: Function to eliminate excess water from the organism's body.
Nephridiopore: The opening through which waste fluids are expelled.

Sensory and Locomotion Adaptations

Ganglia: Clusters of nerve cell bodies providing coordinated movement and sensory reception.
Ocelli: Light-detecting structures aiding in environmental awareness.
Auricles: Sensory projections that respond to chemicals and touch stimuli.
Locomotion: Achieved through coordinated muscle contractions and neural control, allowing both voluntary and involuntary movements.

Environmental Interactions

Camouflage: Structural adaptations help flatworms blend into their surroundings, increasing survival rates.
Toxins: Some species produce harmful chemicals affecting host organisms and their immune responses.

Regeneration and Survival

Exhibits remarkable regenerative capabilities allowing flatworms to regrow lost body parts, contributing to their survival in diverse habitats.

Class Monogenea

Consists of small parasitic flatworms typically found on fish skin or gills, highlighting the diverse ecological roles of flatworms within their environments.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Phylum Platyhelminthes with these flashcards. This quiz covers key terms and definitions related to flatworms, including anatomical features and developmental biology.