noun
- The body cavity of arthropods and mollusks in which blood circulates directly, bathing the internal organs.
Usage: biology; zoology; also spelled hemocoel in American English
Examples
- In insects, the haemocoel is filled with hemolymph that directly contacts the organs.
- The haemocoel of crustaceans functions as both a circulatory and hydrostatic system.
- Unlike vertebrates with closed circulatory systems, arthropods rely on their haemocoel for nutrient distribution.
- The haemocoel allows mollusks to maintain body pressure and support their tissues.