GENERAL HISTOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Inside each arm, locate two long digestive glands called the pyloric caeca. These make enzymes to digest food in the stomach. Label these in Figure 4.

Detailed explanation-2: -The pyloric stomach is connected by two pyloric caeca-hollow tubes that absorbs nutrients from its food. The pyloric stomach is closest to the aboral side of the starfish and is on top of the cardiac stomach which is directly over the mouth on the ventral side of the starfish.

Detailed explanation-3: -The pyloric stomach has two extensions into each arm: the pyloric caeca. These are elongated, branched hollow tubes that are lined by a series of glands, which secrete digestive enzymes and absorb nutrients from the food.

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.