GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Starfish sexually reproduce through spawning, meaning that sex cells (eggs and sperm) are released into the water and fertilized outside of the body. Each arm contains gonads that swell with eggs and sperm in female and male starfish, respectively.

Detailed explanation-2: -Starfish sexually reproduce by a process called spawning, with many individuals releasing great quantities of eggs or sperm into the water from their sexual organs, located in their arms.

Detailed explanation-3: -NARRATOR: Some starfishes reproduce by releasing their eggs directly into seawater. About the time the eggs are released by female sea stars, males release their sperm. A large male starfish like this one will fill the water with billions of sperm cells.

Detailed explanation-4: -Reproduction and Life Cycle Females can release up to 2.5 million eggs. Fertilized eggs develop into free-swimming larvae.

Detailed explanation-5: -Male and female sea stars release their gametes through gonopores, located on the top (dorsal aspect) of the animal (Figure 2), and fertilization occurs externally in the seawater. Investigators can therefore spawn the animals individually in the lab, collect eggs and sperm, and fertilize en masse.