Haemocoel

The haemocoel is the main body cavity of invertebrates, such as insects.

Insects do not possess an arrangement of blood vessels such as those in mammals. Instead insects have a cavity that is full of insect blood (known as haemolymph) and the organs of the insect are suspended in this cavity. This means the organs do not have a specific blood supply but are suspended in the blood and receive nutrients as the blood 'washes' around the organs.

Related terms

• Abdomen
• Haemolymph
• Hormone
• Thorax
• Yellow fever

Related groups of terms

• Invertebrate body structure

Related pages on this web site

• Insect body structure

See other words beginning with H