collencyte

zoology

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June 24, 2026

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Collencytes are branched cells found within the mesohyl of sponges. They are responsible for secreting fibers, which can form a net-like structure in the cytoplasm. These cells are considered a type of connective tissue cell, similar to those found in more complex animals, though their exact origins and homologies with higher animal cells are not fully understood. Sponges are unique in that they lack true organs, and their cells, including collencytes, are highly adaptable and capable of migration and transformation.123

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sponge
Pinacocytes, collencytes, and other cell types
The collencytes, found in the mesohyl, secrete fibres and often form a net in the cytoplasm. The mesohyl of sponges contains other types of cells (lophocytes, sclerocytes, myocytes) believed to be derived from archaeocytes. Lophocytes, similar to but larger than collencytes, have long cytoplasmic processes at…
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The collencytes, found in the mesohyl, secrete fibres and often form a net in the cytoplasm. The mesohyl of sponges contains other types of cells (lophocytes, sclerocytes, myocytes) believed to be derived from archaeocytes. Lophocytes, similar to but larger than collencytes, have long cytoplasmic processes at…
Read More