Zoophysiology
1 total work
v. 30
Peritrophic membranes are secretion products of the midgut. For long they have been related only to insects, but they occur widely in the animal kingdom. They affect a part of the gut lumen and function not only as a mechanical protection barrier, but also as an ultrafilter, a barrier to parasites, and as envelopes for fecal pellets. Such peritrophic envelopes are of great ecological importance in marine environments. This is a comprehensive compilation of all data concerning peritrophic membranes which aims to provide a basis for future researches in the field. Topics covered include the occurence, formation and structure, degradation, chemical composition, and functions of peritrophic membranes.