GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -This includes creatures and their unique body parts. One of them that has a unique body part and name are sea urchins and sand dollars. The term Aristotle’s lantern refers to the mouth of sea urchins and sand dollars. Some people say, however, that it does not solely refer to the mouth alone, but the entire animal.

Detailed explanation-2: -Sea urchins use their tube feet to move across rocks grazing on algae with a series of five teeth that extend from the mouth called an Aristotle’s Lantern. However, the Aristotle’s Lantern in a sand dollar is greatly reduced and does not extend from their mouths.

Detailed explanation-3: -Sea urchins possess an intricate mouth apparatus that’s located on the underside of their bodies-it’s referred to as an Aristotle’s Lantern! This muscular system is comprised of a powerful set of jaws and five sharp teeth-like structures that can move in various directions.

Detailed explanation-4: -According to Aristotle, “the mouth-apparatus of the urchin is continuous from one end to the other, but to outward appearance it is not so, but looks like a horn lantern with the panes of horn left out.” Ever since this observation was made the mouth of a sea urchin has been referred to as an Aristotle’s lantern.

Detailed explanation-5: -Sand dollars are echinoderms, related to sea stars and sea urchins. Like all echinoderms, their bodies are based on five-part symmetry (watch our video on the body plan of these animals: Five part symmetry).