gastrodermis
Quick Summary
The gastrodermis is the inner lining of the alimentary tract in invertebrates. In cnidarians, it forms the gastrodermis, which lines the central cavity known as the coelenteron. This cavity is where extracellular digestion begins, with enzymes secreted by gastrodermal cells breaking down food. The cells then engulf fragments for further intracellular digestion. The term endoderm is sometimes used interchangeably with gastrodermis, as it is the innermost germ layer that develops into the lining of the gastrointestinal tract in many animals.12345
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