Animal Development and Symmetry

These flashcards cover key concepts related to animal symmetry and development, focusing on anatomical terms, germ layers, and their functions.

Bilateral Symmetry

A body plan in which two equal halves mirror each other, including a dorsal side, ventral side, anterior end, and posterior end.

Dorsal

The top side of an organism.

Ventral

The bottom side of an organism.

Cephalization

The concentration of sensory equipment and nervous tissue at the anterior end of an organism, leading to the development of a brain.

Tissues

Collections of specialized cells isolated from other tissues by membranous layers.

Germ Layers

The three layers (endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm) that give rise to tissues and organs during the development of the animal embryo.

Endoderm

The innermost germ layer that lines the developing digestive tube.

Mesoderm

The middle germ layer that fills the space between the ectoderm and endoderm.

Ectoderm

The outermost germ layer that covers the surface of the embryo.

Coelom

A fluid-filled space between the digestive tract and body wall, providing cushioning and support to organs.

Cnidarian

A type of diploblastic organism, meaning it only has two germ layers: ectoderm and endoderm.

Triploblastic

Organisms that have three germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.