Intracellular digestion

Definition

Intracellular digestion is the process by which cells digest food particles within their own cytoplasm. This form of digestion is common in simple animals like sponges and certain single-celled organisms.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intracellular digestion occurs inside cells, typically within food vacuoles or lysosomes.
2. Sponges use specialized cells called choanocytes to capture and digest food particles intracellularly.
3. Cnidarians, such as jellyfish and hydra, can perform both extracellular and intracellular digestion.
4. Intracellular digestion allows for the direct absorption of nutrients into the cell's cytoplasm.
5. This process is considered primitive compared to extracellular digestion found in more complex animals.

Review Questions

• What type of cells do sponges use for intracellular digestion?
• How does intracellular digestion differ from extracellular digestion?
• Which group of animals can perform both extracellular and intracellular digestion?

Related terms

Choanocytes: Specialized cells in sponges that capture and digest food particles through intracellular digestion.

Food Vacuole: A membrane-bound compartment used by some cells to enclose and digest food particles internally.

Extracellular Digestion: The breakdown of food outside of cells, typically within a digestive cavity or gut.