Noun
mesohyl (plural mesohyls)
The gelatinous matrix within a sponge, filling the space between the external pinacoderm and the internal choanoderm.
All sponges have ostia, channels leading to the interior through the mesohyl, and in most sponges these are controlled by tube-like porocytes that form closable inlet valves. Source: Internet
Archeocytes remove mineral particles that threaten to block the ostia, transport them through the mesohyl and generally dump them into the outgoing water current, although some species incorporate them into their skeletons. Source: Internet
They use the mobility of their pinacocytes and choanocytes and reshaping of the mesohyl to re-attach themselves to a suitable surface and then rebuild themselves as small but functional sponges over the course of several days. Source: Internet
Other types of cell live and move within the mesohyl: *Lophocytes are amoeba -like cells that move slowly through the mesohyl and secrete collagen fibres. Source: Internet
The mesohyl functions as an endoskeleton in most sponges, and is the only skeleton in soft sponges that encrust hard surfaces such as rocks. Source: Internet
The same capabilities enable sponges that have been squeezed through a fine cloth to regenerate.sfn A sponge fragment can only regenerate if it contains both collencytes to produce mesohyl and archeocytes to produce all the other cell types. Source: Internet