Preferred Label : endostyle;
Uberon definition : An endostyle is a longitudinal ciliated groove on the ventral wall of the pharynx
which produces mucus to gather food particles. It is found in urochordates and cephalochordates,
and in the larvae of lampreys. It aids in transporting food to the esophagus. It is
also called the hypopharyngeal groove. The endostyle in larval lampreys (ammocetes)
metamorphoses into the thyroid gland in adults, and is regarded as being homologous
to the thyroid gland in vertebrates. However, Dumont, et al. question whether the
endostyle in ammocetes is homologous with that of the urochordates and cephalochordates.
Since the endostyle is found in the three branches of chordates, it is presumed to
have arisen in the common ancestor of these taxa, along with a shift to internal feeding
for extracting suspended food from the water.;
Uberon related term : hypopharyngeal groove;
Origin ID : 0006870;
has part
- part of
An endostyle is a longitudinal ciliated groove on the ventral wall of the pharynx
which produces mucus to gather food particles. It is found in urochordates and cephalochordates,
and in the larvae of lampreys. It aids in transporting food to the esophagus. It is
also called the hypopharyngeal groove. The endostyle in larval lampreys (ammocetes)
metamorphoses into the thyroid gland in adults, and is regarded as being homologous
to the thyroid gland in vertebrates. However, Dumont, et al. question whether the
endostyle in ammocetes is homologous with that of the urochordates and cephalochordates.
Since the endostyle is found in the three branches of chordates, it is presumed to
have arisen in the common ancestor of these taxa, along with a shift to internal feeding
for extracting suspended food from the water.
