The cystoids, a diverse and artificial group of extinct Palaeozoic echinoderms, are characterized by the possession of pore-structures developed in the thecal wall and composed of thecal canals which open in thecal pores. Thecal canals may occur singly to form dipores, or in sets perpendicular to plate sutures to form rhombs. Five basic types of pore-structure are recognised: pectinirhombs, cryptorhombs, humatirhombs, humatipores, and diplopores. The first two are composed of dichopores, thecal canals which connect external pores and through which sea-water flowed in life.