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

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

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

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

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

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