lophophore

American  

[lof-uh-fawr, -fohr, loh-fuh-] / ˈlɒf əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, ˈloʊ fə- /

noun

1. the ring of ciliated tentacles encircling the mouth of a bryozoan or phoronid.

2. a similar organ in a brachiopod, composed of two ciliated, spirally coiled tentacles.

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lophophore British  

/ ˈləʊfəˌfɔː /

noun

1. a circle or horseshoe of ciliated tentacles surrounding the mouth and used for the capture of food in minute sessile animals of the phyla Brachiopoda, Phoronida, and Ectoprocta

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lophophore Scientific  

/ lŏf′ə-fôr′ /

1. A horseshoe-shaped ciliated organ located near the mouth of brachiopods, bryozoans, and phoronids that is used to gather food.

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Other Word Forms

• lophophoral adjective
• lophophorate adjective

Etymology

Origin of lophophore

1840–50; < Greek lóph ( os ) a crest, ridge + -o- -o- + -phore

Example Sentences

Together with the base to which they are attached they are known as the "lophophore"; they surround the mouth, usually in a circle.

From Project Gutenberg

The latter movement is executed by means of the retractor muscles, which by contracting drag the extruded parts back towards the posterior end of the endocyst, but it is not by any means certain how the extrusion of the lophophore is brought about.

From Project Gutenberg

When the lophophore is expanded, the tentacles in favourable circumstances remain almost still, except for the movements of their cilia; but if a particle of matter too large for the mouth to swallow or otherwise unsuitable is brought by the currents of the cilia towards it, individual tentacles can be bent down to wave it away and similar movements are often observed without apparent cause.

From Project Gutenberg

Intertentacular organ A ciliated tube running between the cavity of the zoœcium and the external base of the lophophore.

From Project Gutenberg

Retractor muscles The muscles by the action of which the lophophore can be pulled back into the zoœcium.

From Project Gutenberg