Choanocyte

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  choanocyte \cho"a*no*cyte`\ (k[=o]"[.a]*n[-o]*s[imac]t`;
     k[=o]*[a^]n"[-o]*s[imac]t`), n. [Gr. choa`nh funnel + -cyte.]
     any of the flagellated cells in sponges having a collar of
     cytoplasm around base of the flagellum; they maintain a flow
     of water through the body.
  


     Syn: collar cell.
          [WordNet 1.5]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  choanocyte
       n : any of the flagellated cells in sponges having a collar of
           cytoplasm around the flagellum; they maintain a flow of
           water through the body [syn: {collar cell}]