What is the Difference Between Gastrovascular Cavity and Alimentary Canal?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a gastrovascular cavity and an alimentary canal lies in their structure and function:
- Gastrovascular Cavity: This is a single, two-way digestive tract with only one opening that serves as both the mouth and anus. It is found in more primitive organisms, such as those belonging to the phyla Cnidaria and Platyhelminthes. The gastrovascular cavity functions in food digestion and the circulation of nutrients throughout the body.
- Alimentary Canal: This is a more advanced digestive system consisting of a tube with a mouth at one end and an anus at the other. The alimentary canal is primarily involved in food digestion and is found in all vertebrates and most invertebrates. The food ingested through the mouth passes through various organs, such as the esophagus, stomach, and intestine, where it is broken down and nutrients are absorbed.
In summary, the gastrovascular cavity is a simpler, one-opening digestive system found in primitive organisms, while the alimentary canal is a more complex, two-opening system found in a wider range of organisms, including vertebrates and most invertebrates.
Comparative Table: Gastrovascular Cavity vs Alimentary Canal
The key difference between a gastrovascular cavity and an alimentary canal lies in their structure and function. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences:
Feature | Gastrovascular Cavity | Alimentary Canal |
---|---|---|
Type of Digestive Tract | Two-way digestive tract | One-way digestive tract |
Openings | One opening, serving as both mouth and anus | Two separate openings, one for mouth and one for anus |
Function | Functions in both food digestion and distribution of nutrients | Primarily involved in food digestion |
Organisms | Found in primitive phyla Cnidaria and Platyhelminthes | Found in all vertebrates and most invertebrates |
Structure | Highly branched canal system | Comprises a mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus |
In summary, the gastrovascular cavity is a two-way digestive tract with only one opening, serving both as a mouth and anus, and is found in primitive organisms such as Cnidaria and Platyhelminthes. On the other hand, the alimentary canal is a one-way digestive tract with two separate openings for mouth and anus, and is present in all vertebrates and most invertebrates.
- Alimentary Canal vs Digestive System
- Alimentary Canal of Herbivores vs Carnivores
- Abdomen vs Abdominal Cavity
- Gut vs Stomach
- Ingestion vs Egestion
- Blastula vs Gastrula
- Digestion in Stomach vs Digestion in Intestine
- Endoscopy vs Gastroscopy
- Gastritis vs Gastroenteritis
- Esophageal vs Gastric Epithelium
- Coelomate vs Acoelomate
- Cephalopods vs Gastropods
- Coelom vs Pseudocoelom
- Herbivores vs Carnivores Digestive System
- Colon vs Intestines
- Food Poisoning vs Gastroenteritis
- Enterocoelom vs Schizocoelom
- Abdomen vs Stomach
- Anus vs Cloaca