gastrovascular

American  

[gas-troh-vas-kyuh-ler] / ˌgæs troʊˈvæs kyə lər /

adjective

Zoology.

1. serving for digestion and circulation, as a cavity.

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gastrovascular British  

/ ˌɡæstrəʊˈvæskjʊlə /

adjective

1. (esp of the body cavities of coelenterates) functioning in digestion and circulation

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Etymology

Origin of gastrovascular

First recorded in 1875–80; gastro- + vascular

Example Sentences

There is no excretory system or organs, and nitrogenous wastes simply diffuse from the cells into the water outside the animal or in the gastrovascular cavity.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

A mouth is located at the top of the gastrovascular cavity.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Many hydrozoans form colonies that are composed of a branched colony of specialized polyps that share a gastrovascular cavity, such as in the colonial hydroid Obelia.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Mesenteries do not divide the gastrovascular cavity completely, and the smaller cavities coalesce at the pharyngeal opening.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

The mouth leads to the gastrovascular cavity, which may be sectioned into four interconnected sacs, called diverticuli.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015