Coelom
Encyclopedia
The coelom (also celom) is a fluid-filled cavity formed within the mesoderm
. Coeloms developed in triploblasts but were subsequently lost in several lineages. Loss of coelom is correlated with reduction in body size. Coeloms are only ever present in triploblastic animals, though coelom is sometimes (incorrectly) used to refer to any developed digestive tract.
Functionally, a coelom can absorb shock or provide a hydrostatic skeleton
. It also allows organs to grow independently off the body wall. This can be seen in the digestive tract of earthworms and other annelid
s, which is suspended within the body in a mesentery
derived from a mesoderm-lined coelom. In mammals, the coelom forms the peritoneal
, pleural
, and pericardial
cavities.
In the past, zoologists grouped animals based on characters related to the coelom. The presence or absence of a coelom and the way in which it was formed was believed to be important in understanding the phylogenetic
relationships of animal phyla
. However, recent molecular phylogenies have suggested this characteristic is not as informative as previously believed: the coelom may have arisen twice, once in protostome
s and once among the deuterostome
s. The coelomate phyla comprise Entoprocta, Ectoprocta, Phoronida, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Priapulida, Sipuncula, Echiura, Annelida, Tardigrada, Pentastoma, Onychophora, Arthropoda, Pogonophora, Echinodermata, Chaetognatha, Hemichordata and Chordata.
Mesoderm
In all bilaterian animals, the mesoderm is one of the three primary germ cell layers in the very early embryo. The other two layers are the ectoderm and endoderm , with the mesoderm as the middle layer between them.The mesoderm forms mesenchyme , mesothelium, non-epithelial blood corpuscles and...
. Coeloms developed in triploblasts but were subsequently lost in several lineages. Loss of coelom is correlated with reduction in body size. Coeloms are only ever present in triploblastic animals, though coelom is sometimes (incorrectly) used to refer to any developed digestive tract.
Functionally, a coelom can absorb shock or provide a hydrostatic skeleton
Hydrostatic skeleton
A hydrostatic skeleton or hydroskeleton is a structure found in many cold-blooded organisms and soft-bodied animals consisting of a fluid-filled cavity, the coelom, surrounded by muscles. The pressure of the fluid and action of the surrounding circular and longitudinal muscles are used to change an...
. It also allows organs to grow independently off the body wall. This can be seen in the digestive tract of earthworms and other annelid
Annelid
The annelids , formally called Annelida , are a large phylum of segmented worms, with over 17,000 modern species including ragworms, earthworms and leeches...
s, which is suspended within the body in a mesentery
Mesentery
In anatomy, the mesentery is the double layer of peritoneum that suspends the jejunum and ileum from the posterior wall of the abdomen. Its meaning, however, is frequently extended to include double layers of peritoneum connecting various components of the abdominal cavity.-Mesentery :The...
derived from a mesoderm-lined coelom. In mammals, the coelom forms the peritoneal
Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...
, pleural
Pleural cavity
In human anatomy, the pleural cavity is the potential space between the two pleura of the lungs. The pleura is a serous membrane which folds back onto itself to form a two-layered, membrane structure. The thin space between the two pleural layers is known as the pleural cavity; it normally...
, and pericardial
Pericardial sinus
There are two Pericardial sinuses: transverse and oblique.* The cul-de-sac enclosed between the limbs of the inverted U of the venous mesocardium lies behind the left atrium and is known as the oblique sinus...
cavities.
In the past, zoologists grouped animals based on characters related to the coelom. The presence or absence of a coelom and the way in which it was formed was believed to be important in understanding the phylogenetic
Phylogenetics
In biology, phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms , which is discovered through molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices...
relationships of animal phyla
Phylum
In biology, a phylum The term was coined by Georges Cuvier from Greek φῦλον phylon, "race, stock," related to φυλή phyle, "tribe, clan." is a taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class. "Phylum" is equivalent to the botanical term division....
. However, recent molecular phylogenies have suggested this characteristic is not as informative as previously believed: the coelom may have arisen twice, once in protostome
Protostome
Protostomia are a clade of animals. Together with the deuterostomes and a few smaller phyla, they make up the Bilateria, mostly comprising animals with bilateral symmetry and three germ layers...
s and once among the deuterostome
Deuterostome
Deuterostomes are a superphylum of animals. They are a subtaxon of the Bilateria branch of the subregnum Eumetazoa, and are opposed to the protostomes...
s. The coelomate phyla comprise Entoprocta, Ectoprocta, Phoronida, Brachiopoda, Mollusca, Priapulida, Sipuncula, Echiura, Annelida, Tardigrada, Pentastoma, Onychophora, Arthropoda, Pogonophora, Echinodermata, Chaetognatha, Hemichordata and Chordata.