Question

Cytopyge or cytoproct of Paramecium is meant for ________
A. Ingestion
B. Osmoregulation
C. Reproduction
D. Egestion

Answer 1

Hint: Paramecium is a unicellular ciliate that are found mostly in freshwater, marine environment and brackish water. It is widely used as a model organism for various biological studies.

Complete answer:
The cells of paramecium are either elongated, ovoid, foot-shaped or cigar shaped. The cells are enclosed within an elastic structure known as the pellicle, which consists of either hexagonal or rectangular depressions on it. Pellicles comprises an outer membrane, a layer of flattened membrane like sacs called alveoli and an inner membrane which is called the epiplasm. Spindle shaped organelles known as trichocyst exist between the alveolar sacs. They help in the release of thin non-toxic filaments which are mostly for defense purposes. The cells also consist of an anal pore or cytoproct on the ventral surface which is not lined with cilia and helps in removal of waste materials and an oral groove on the anterior side of the cell that stretches till the midpoint. The oral groove is lined with cilia and helps in drawing food inside the cell. Paramecia mostly feed on bacteria, yeasts, algae and other microorganisms.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D)

Note: Paramecium also carries out osmoregulation by the help of its contractile vacuole that helps in the removal of water from the cell. The number of contractile vacuoles varies in number depending on the species but their function is the same in all the species.