What function do collar cells serve?
Collar cells, also known as choanocytes, are specialized cells found in sponges, which are aquatic animals that lack true tissues and organs. Collar cells are responsible for generating water currents, trapping and filtering food particles, and participating in gas exchange.
Collar cells are characterized by a cylindrical or conical structure that consists of a collar of microvilli surrounding a single flagellum. The collar is made up of small hair-like projections called microvilli, which serve to trap and filter food particles from the water. The flagellum, on the other hand, beats rhythmically to generate water currents, which bring in fresh water and remove waste products from the sponge.
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