Choanosome

/ˈkoʊænəsoʊm/ noun

Definition

In sponges, the internal cavity or chamber lined with special filtering cells that draw water through the organism.

Etymology

From Greek choane (funnel) + soma (body), literally 'funnel-body,' named for its funnel-like function in filtering seawater.

Kelly Says

The choanosome is basically a sponge's stomach and digestive system combined into one elegant filtering chamber—it's one of nature's earliest multi-purpose organs, showing that complex designs evolved millions of years before complicated animals!

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