The basic stages characterizing research of brood chambers (ovicells) in cheilostome bryozoans are reviewed, from their first description by J. Ellis in 1755 up to the present. The problems concerning contradictory views of researchers on the structure, formation, and function of ovicells are considered in detail. Special attention was paid to the development of modern terminology. Based on recent data, including paleontological data, the prospects are displayed of studying brood structures in Cheilostomata in order to better understand the phylogeny and evolution of their reproductive strategies.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.