What part of the paramecium functions as the food entry?
1 Answer
Sep 25, 2016
The cytostome.
Explanation:
A paramecium is a small one celled organism that feeds on microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts and single-celled algae. Paramecia have a furrow in the cell lining that is called the oral groove.
Cilia (small moving hair-like structures) in the oral groove sweep food into the cytostome which translates to 'cell mouth' (cyto = cell, stome = mouth). There the food is taken in by phagocytosis, meaning the food is enclosed in a vacuole that travels through the cell.
The video below shows several paramecium feeding.
Hope this helps.