Flame cell: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 09:16, 14 March 2013

A flame cell is a specialized excretory cell found in the simplest freshwater invertebrates, including flatworms (except the turbellarian order Acoela), rotifers and nemerteans; these are the simplest animals to have a dedicated excretory system. Flame cells function like a kidney, removing waste materials. Bundles of flame cells are called protonephridia.^[1]

The flame cell has a nucleated cell body, with a "cup-shaped" projection, with flagella covering the inner surface of the cup. The beating of these flagella resemble a flame, giving the cell its name. The cup is attached to a tube cell, whose inner surface is also coated in cilia, which help to move liquid through the tube cell. The tube opens externally through a nephropore, or, in the trematoda, into an excretory bladder. The function of these cells is to regulate the osmotic pressure of the worm, and maintain its ionic balance. Microvilli in the tube cell may be used to reabsorb some ions.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Ruppert, E.E., Fox, R.S., and Barnes, R.D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology (7 ed.). Brooks / Cole. pp. 213–215. ISBN 0-03-025982-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

Animation of Excretion

[RuppertBarnes2004Bilateria-1] Ruppert, E.E., Fox, R.S., and Barnes, R.D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology (7 ed.). Brooks / Cole. pp. 213–215. ISBN 0-03-025982-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[1]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 }}</ref>
-The flame cell has a [[nucleus (biology)|nucleated]] cell body, with a "cup-shaped" projection, with [[cilia]] covering the inner surface of the cup. The beating of these cilia resemble a flame, giving the cell its name. The cup is attached to a '''tube cell''', whose inner surface is also coated in [[cilia]], which help to move liquid through the tube cell. The tube opens externally through a ''nephropore'', or, in the [[trematoda]], into an excretory [[Urinary bladder|bladder]]. The function of these cells is to regulate the [[osmotic pressure]] of the worm, and maintain its ionic balance. [[Microvilli]] in the tube cell may be used to reabsorb some [[ion]]s.<ref name="RuppertBarnes2004Bilateria" />
+The flame cell has a [[nucleus (biology)|nucleated]] cell body, with a "cup-shaped" projection, with [[flagella]] covering the inner surface of the cup. The beating of these flagella resemble a flame, giving the cell its name. The cup is attached to a '''tube cell''', whose inner surface is also coated in [[cilia]], which help to move liquid through the tube cell. The tube opens externally through a ''nephropore'', or, in the [[trematoda]], into an excretory [[Urinary bladder|bladder]]. The function of these cells is to regulate the [[osmotic pressure]] of the worm, and maintain its ionic balance. [[Microvilli]] in the tube cell may be used to reabsorb some [[ion]]s.<ref name="RuppertBarnes2004Bilateria" />
 ==See also==