GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Starfish have 10 digestive glands called pyloric ceca. There are a pair (2) of pyloric ceca in each of the five arms of the starfish. Their digestive system is made up of the mouth, stomach, intestines, and anus.

Detailed explanation-2: -Observe the many calcareous plates or ossicles that form part of the skeleton of the starfish. Two sets of digestive glands, or pyloric ceca, can be seen suspended in the coelom by extensions of the peritoneum called mesenteries, or septa. On the oral surface notice the tube feet that terminate in suckers.

Detailed explanation-3: -They have two stomachs…and the way they eat might make your skin crawl. The anatomy of a sea star’s digestive system is quite alarming, and has an incredibly unique two-part stomach system.

Detailed explanation-4: -Some species of sea stars are able to use the cardiac stomach to consume larger prey, such as clams and mussels. The pyloric stomach extends into the arms where digestive glands release enzymes and absorb nutrients from food.

Detailed explanation-5: -Digestive enzymes produce a soup-like slurry out of the prey, which is then drawn back into the sea star’s digestive glands.