Porifera Vocab

5. Outer layer of cells covering the surface of the sponge.
6. Attached or fixed in one place; sponges are often sessile organisms.
7. Reproduction without the involvement of gametes, common in sponges
8. and other functions.
11. The process by which cells engulf and digest solid particles, seen in sponge cells during
14. The phylum of simple multicellular organisms commonly known as sponges.
15. budding or fragmentation.
16. Collar cells in sponges that create water currents and capture food particles.
18. Resistant reproductive structures in some sponge species, capable of surviving harsh
19. Channels in the sponge body that direct water to the spongocoel for filtration.
20. A close and often mutually beneficial relationship between different species; some
22. Associated with the bottom of a body of water; many sponges are benthic organisms.
23. Protein fibers in the sponge's extracellular matrix that contribute to its structural integrity.
24. Lack of symmetry in body structure, a characteristic of many sponge species.

1. The method by which sponges extract food particles from water using specialized cells.
2. Gelatinous matrix within the sponge that contains amoebocytes and skeletal elements.
3. engage in symbiotic relationships.
4. Small, needle-like structures made of calcium carbonate or silica that provide
9. support in some sponge species.
10. The ability of sponges to regrow from fragments or even individual cells.
12. Central cavity in sponges where water is circulated for filter feeding.
13. Mobile cells in sponges responsible for transporting nutrients, forming skeletal
17. Pores in the sponge body through which water enters for filtration.
21. Large opening at the top of the sponge through which water exits after filtration.