Pinacoderm

The pinacoderm is the outermost layer of body cells (pinacocytes) of organisms of the phylum Porifera (sponges), equivalent to the epidermis in other animals.

Structure

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The pinacoderm is composed of pinacocytes, flattened epithelial cells that can expand or contract to slightly alter the size and shape of the sponge.[1] It also contains porocytes, oval-shaped cells extending from the pinacoderm to the choanoderm (the body layer containing choanocytes).

References

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  1. ^ Charles F. Lytle; John R. Meyer (2005). General Zoology Laboratory Guide (Fourteenth ed.).