Sucena, ÉlioLeitão, Alexandre Castanho Barata2014-11-132014-11-132014-072014-11http://hdl.handle.net/10362/13700All coelomate animals possess a population of cells that do not make part of an organ and instead freely flow inside the body cavity. These cells, termed hemocytes (in invertebrates) or blood cells (in vertebrates), are involved in varied functions including immune response, clearance of apoptotic cells and distribution of nutrient and gases (Grigorian & Hartenstein 2013).(...)engdoctoral thesis101332696