noun
- the main body cavity in most animals, located between the body wall and the digestive tract
Usage: biology
Examples
- The coelom contains the heart, lungs, and other internal organs.
- Earthworms have a well-developed coelom that aids in movement.
- The coelom is filled with fluid that cushions the organs.
- During development, the coelom forms from splits in the mesoderm.
- Fish have a coelom that houses their swim bladder and digestive organs.
- The coelom allows organs to move independently of the body wall.