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15.5 Sponge Structure and Function -
Advanced
FlexBooks 2.0 > CK-12 Advanced Biology > Sponge Structure and Function - Advanced
Written by: Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D. | Jennifer Blanchette
Fact-checked by: The CK-12 Editorial Team
Last Modified: Apr 02, 2025
[Figure 1]
Does it just sit there, or does it do something?
As an animal, a sponge must "do something" to stay alive. The sponge is constantly obtaining energy and nutrients.
Notice the simple structure of this animal. How does it eat?
Structure and Function in Sponges
Sponges are diploblasts meaning that they develop from two basic germ layers: an ectoderm, or outer layer, and an
endoderm, or inner layer. Most sponges are asymmetric. Asymmetry means that if the animal is divided into two halves
along any axis, the halves will not be equal or identical. In this concept we will consider sponge structure and examine
the functions of the major types of specialized sponge cells.
Body Plan
There are three different body plans found among sponges, and they are depicted in Figure below. The main difference
between each body plan is the complexity of the canal system that pumps water through the animal.
[Figure 2]
These drawings show cross-sections of asconoid, synconoid, and leuconoid sponge body walls. Water flows through the ostia/ostium
into the spongocoel.
The most basic body plan is called asconoid. In asconoid sponges the two major cell layers surround a fluid-filled cavity
called the spongocoel, the large central cavity of sponges . Water is pumped directly through pores, called ostia, into
the spongocoel and then out of the sponge through an opening called the osculum (plural oscula). The spongocoel is
lined with specialized digestive cells called choanocytes that filter and take in food. Synconoid is a more complex body
plan. In synconoid sponges the ostia lead to a network of canals that are lined with choanocytes. Water is pumped into
the ostia and through these canals before arriving at the spongocoel. There are no choanocytes lining the spongocoel
of synconoid sponges so digestion takes place in the canals. The most complex sponge body plan is called leuconoid.
In these sponges the canal system forms a more elaborate branched network, and the canals lead to digestive
chambers instead of a spongocoel. In leuconoid sponges the choanocytes line the digestive chambers and not the
canals. Once water has passed through the digestive chambers it is released into an exit canal that leads to the
osculum. There is no real spongocoel in leuconoid sponges. One feature that is common to all three types of body plan
is the presence of a holdfast at the base of each animal. The holdfast is what the sponge uses to anchor itself to a solid
surface, such as a rock. This prevents the sponge from being transported by water currents.
Specialized Cell Types
Sponge feeding is critically dependent on several specialized cells within the organism. The organization of various cell
types within the sponge body wall is depicted in Figure below.
[Figure 3]
Sponge Anatomy. A sponge lacks tissues and organs, but it has several types of specialized cells.
[Figure 4]
Collar Cell. The collar cells of sponges trap and digest food.
One of the main digestive cell types is the choanocyte. These cells are commonly called “collar cells” because they
have a collar of microvilli at the cell surface that is used to trap food particles flowing through the organism. Microvilli are
long, thin extensions of a cell’s outer membrane. In the middle of this collar of microvilli is a large flagellum projection.
The flagella are long, whip-like structures that move back and forth to create a flow of current through the sponge body.
Once bacteria and other food particles have been trapped by the ciliated collar, the choanocytes engulf them and
digest them. Some of the engulfed material may be distributed to another type of cell called an amoebocyte. The
amoebocyte assists in the digestive process and in the distribution of nutrients to other cells of the body. Amoebocytes
are also totipotent, meaning that they can change into other sponge cell types. In some species, amoebocytes are able
to become egg or sperm cells for sexual reproduction. Pinacocytes are the epidermal or “skin” cells on the outer
surface of sponges. Porocytes are cylindrical cells that make up the pores or ostia. Water enters the animal through the
pores formed by these cells. The flow of water into the sponge body is not only crucial for feeding and digestion, but
also for circulation within the sponge. Since sponges do not have organ systems they do not posses a respiratory or
circulatory system. They obtain oxygen by diffusion from the water flowing through their bodies, and waste is expelled
by diffusion into the same pool of water.
As mentioned above, sponges are diploblasts and consist of essentially two cell layers. Between these two layers there
is a gelatinous substance called the mesohyl. This matrix encases the sponge’s skeletal elements as well as scattered
amoebocytes. Sponge skeletons are made up of hard, rod-like projections called spicules and a protein called collagen.
As discussed in Sponges: Characteristics and Classification, sponge classes are based on the composition of the
spicules. Spicules made of calcium carbonate or silica are secreted by cells called sclerocytes. Skeletal elements made
of spongin are often referred to as spongin fibers because they are more flexible than calcium or silica spicules.
Spongin is a protein and it is secreted by cells called spongocytes.
Although sponges have no muscle tissue and are sessile organisms, they do have muscle-like cells called myocytes.
Myocytes surround canal openings and porocytes. These cells are able to contract in order to regulate water flow
through the body.
Summary
Sponges have a number of specialized cells that carry out distinct functions within the organism, but they do not
have true tissues or organs.
There are three different body plans found among sponges: asconoid, synconoid, and leuconoid.
Sponge feeding is critically dependent on several specialized cells within the organism including the following:
choanocytes, amoebocytes, and porocytes.
Review
1. How many germ layers do sponges develop from?
2. Which body plans of sponges include spongocoels? Which ones don't?
3. What is the difference between the asconoid body plan and the synconoid body plan?
4. What role do porocytes play?
5. Why is water so crucial for sponges?
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