cardiac stomach

In many species, the large cardiac stomach can be everted and digest food outside the body.

It rakes together heaps of sediment and then turns its cardiac stomach inside out and engulfs the mass.

There is a mouth in the centre of the underside, an oesophagus and cardiac stomach which can be everted.

In starfish, the female may carry the eggs in special pouches, under her arms, under her arched body or even in her cardiac stomach.

Primitive starfish, such as Astropecten and Luidia, swallow their prey whole, and start to digest it in their cardiac stomachs.

Small items are swallowed whole but larger items are tackled by the starfish everting its cardiac stomach over the prey and secreting enzymes to start the digestive process.

This attacks the limpet by humping itself over the top of the shell, inserting part of its cardiac stomach under the rim and secreting digestive juices onto the soft body parts inside.

The cardiac stomach is glandular and pouched, and is supported by ligaments attached to ossicles in the arms, so it can be pulled back into position after it has been everted.