Water vascular system

Water vascular system

The water vascular system is a hydraulic system used by echinoderms, such as starfish and sea urchins, for locomotion, food and waste transportation, and respirationcite book | first = Eldra | last = Solomon| coauthors = Linda Berg, Diana Martin | title = Biology | year = 2002 | publisher = Brooks/Cole] . The system is composed of canals connecting numerous tube feet. Echinoderms move by alternately contracting muscles that force water into the tube feet, causing them to extend and push against the ground, then relaxing to allow the feet to retract.cite web | first = Jonathan | last = Dale | title = Starfish Science | year = 2000 | url = http://www.vsf.cape.com/~jdale/science/science.htm] .

Water enters madreporite and flows through the stone canal and then enters the circular ring canal. Water then is separated into five radial canals that branch into double rows of bulblike structures called ampullae, which are on each side of the ambulacral ridge. The ampullae are connected to suckerlike podia, the entire structure is called a tube foot. Contraction of the ampullae causes the podia to stretch as water is brought into them. This whole process allows for movement, and is quite powerful but extremely slow [cite book | first = Lance | last = Gilbertson | title = Zoology Lab Manual | year = 1999 | edition =fourth edition | publisher = McGraw Hill Companies, New York | isbn = 0-07-237716-X] .

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  • Water vascular system — Vascular Vas cu*lar, a. [L. vasculum a small vessel, dim. of vas vessel: cf. F. vasculaire. See {Vase}, and cf. Vessel.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Biol.) (a) Consisting of, or containing, vessels as an essential part of a structure; full of vessels;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • water-vascular system — [wôt′ərvas′kyə lər] n. in echinoderms, a system of closed tubes and ducts filled with sea water containing some protein, and functioning variously, as in locomotion, food gathering, clinging, and respiration …   English World dictionary

  • water vascular system — noun system of fluid filled tubes used by echinoderms in locomotion and feeding and respiration • Hypernyms: ↑vascular system • Part Holonyms: ↑echinoderm …   Useful english dictionary

  • water vascular system — (ECHINODERMATA) A unique system comprised of tube like body wall appendages (tube feet), and a system of canals derived from the coelom …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • water-vascular system — noun Date: 1870 a system of canals in echinoderms containing a circulating watery fluid that is used for the movement of the tentacles and tube feet …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • water-vascular system — /waw teuhr vas kyeuh leuhr, wot euhr /, Zool. a system of closed, fluid filled tubes and ducts of echinoderms used in clinging, locomotion, feeding, and respiration. [1865 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • water-vascular system — noun : a system of vessels in echinoderms containing a watery fluid that is analogous to blood, is used for the movement of tentacles and tube feet, and may also function in excretion and respiration …   Useful english dictionary

  • Vascular system — Vascular Vas cu*lar, a. [L. vasculum a small vessel, dim. of vas vessel: cf. F. vasculaire. See {Vase}, and cf. Vessel.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Biol.) (a) Consisting of, or containing, vessels as an essential part of a structure; full of vessels;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • vascular system — noun the vessels and tissue that carry or circulate fluids such as blood or lymph or sap through the body of an animal or plant • Hypernyms: ↑system • Hyponyms: ↑water vascular system, ↑portal system, ↑lymphatic system, ↑systema lymphaticum,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • water-vascular — | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective : of, relating to, or made up of vessels that in many invertebrates contain a watery fluid see water vascular system * * * waˈter vasˈcular adjective 1. Relating to vessels in certain invertebrates which contain a …   Useful english dictionary

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