HEMIBRANCH Meaning and
Definition
-
Hemibranch is a term commonly used in the field of zoology, especially in the study of invertebrates such as brachiopods and bryozoans. It refers to a specialized structure or portion of a filter-feeding organism's feeding apparatus that is responsible for filtering food particles from the surrounding water.
In brachiopods, hemibranchs are half-branched structures composed of thin, delicate, and finely ciliated arms or filaments that are part of the lophophore – a horseshoe-shaped feeding organ found in these organisms. The hemibranch functions to trap and extract microscopic food particles such as plankton from the water column, aiding in the animal's nutrition and energy acquisition.
Similarly, in bryozoans, hemibranchs are also important filtering structures found on the lophophore. They consist of slender, tentacle-like structures that are lined with cilia. By constantly beating the cilia, the hemibranchs generate a water current that brings in food particles. These particles are then captured by the ciliated tentacles and transported towards the animal's mouth for ingestion.
The term "hemibranch" is derived from the prefix "hemi-", meaning "half" or "partial", and "branch", referring to a branched structure. Together, it signifies the half-branched nature of the filtering apparatus seen in these organisms. The presence and structure of hemibranchs contribute significantly to the feeding efficiency and survival of brachiopods and bryozoans in their respective habitats.
Common Misspellings for HEMIBRANCH
- gemibranch
- bemibranch
- nemibranch
- jemibranch
- uemibranch
- yemibranch
- hwmibranch
- hsmibranch
- hdmibranch
- hrmibranch
- h4mibranch
- h3mibranch
- henibranch
- hekibranch
- hejibranch
- hemubranch
- hemjbranch
- hemkbranch
- hemobranch
- hem9branch
Etymology of HEMIBRANCH
The word hemibranch is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: hemi which means half and branchia which means gill.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
