Ciliated Organ

an excretory organ of polychaetes and leeches that serves, along with the phagocytes, to remove solid particles from the body cavity. The ciliated organs are isolated areas of the walls of the body cavity. They are lined with ciliated epithelium, or they are pouch-like formations joined to the body cavity with a ciliated funnel. Particles are drawn to the ciliated organs by the fluid current caused by movement of the cilia. The organs are closely associated with the metanephridia, through which the accumulated products of decomposition are removed. (SeeEXCRETORY SYSTEM.)