Spicules are structural elements found in most sponges. They provide structural support and deter predators. Sponges gradually evolved the special bone, that’s spongilla spicules. which is a siliceous spicules, very small, but has a stronger hardness, for supporting the sponge body and resisting the enemy's invasion.
Large spicules that are visible to the naked eye are referred to as megascleres, while smaller, microscopic ones are termed microscleres.
Spicules are found in a range of symmetry types.
Monaxons form simple cylinders with pointed ends. The ends of diactinal monaxons are similar, whereas monactinal monaxons have a different ends - one pointed, one rounded. Diactinal monaxons are classified by the nature of their ends: oxea have pointed ends, and strongyles are rounded. Spine-covered oxea and strongyles are termed acanthoxea and acanthostrongyles, respectively.2 Monactical monaxons always have one pointed end; they are termed styles if the other end is blunt, tylostyles if their blunt end forms a knob; and acanthostyles if they are covered in spines.
Triaxons have three axes; in triods, each axis bears a similar ray; in pentacts, the triaxon has five rays, four of which lie in a single plane; and pinnules are pentacts with large spines on the non-planar ray.
Tetraxons have four axes, and polyaxons more. Sigma-C spicules have the shape of a C.
Dendroclones might be unique to extinct sponges and are branching spicules that may take irregular forms, or may form structures with an I, Y or X shape
Nature is amazing, how beautiful of so many different spicules, but only spongilla spicules from freshwater sponge (Spongillidae) have two pointed looks like embroidery needle which perfect for our skincare.
In ancient time, it is used as a natural beauty care by European Royalties. The hydrolyzed sponge extracted from freshwater sponge, is mainly used in skin renewal and skin problem treatment in cosmetics.
Freshwater sponges, usually attached to grow on the branches and corrupt leaves, the floating beings in the water and some parasitic algae, they will be salvaged with freshwater sponges together. But only the spongilla spicules are really will be used by. Other impurities are not beneficial to the skin, even cause skin allergies and infection. Therefore, we need to remove other impurities, as much as possible to extract pure spongilla spicules.
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