Question

What is a flame cell?

Answer 1

In lower invertebrates, the organ system is not developed. For various functions of the body, there is a specialized cell that carries out the function. For physiological activity the organism has a single cell system. One of these is the flame cells. It helps in the excretion, found in lower invertebrates.

Complete answer-
Flame cells are the specialized cells found in the lower invertebrates like flatworms, rotifers and nemerteans. These cells function as the functional and structural unit of the excretory system in the invertebrates. Just like kidney cells, it excretes the waste material from the body of the respective organism. In the body of the flatworm, the flame cells are present in bundles called the protonephridia. It contains a nucleus like other eukaryotic cells, flagella and a cup shaped projection. When the flagella moves, it appears as a flame and hence the name was given after its appearance.

Note-
Flame cells are the chief excretory system of the invertebrate organism and mostly aquatic organisms. The flame cells are found in phylum platyhelminthes.