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The coelomic sac, or coelom, is a body cavity found in many invertebrate animals. It is formed during embryonic development from the mesoderm, the middle germ layer. In a type of coelomate called a schizocoelomate, this cavity forms through the splitting of mesodermal masses.123

During prenatal development, the mesoderm splits into somatic and splanchnic layers, with the coelom forming in the space between them. This cavity eventually becomes divided into specialized areas, such as the pericardial cavity for the heart, pleural cavities for the lungs, and the peritoneal cavity for abdominal organs. The formation and structure of the coelom are key distinctions between different animal groups.423

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