Two pyloric ceca extend into each arm of the sea star, and are connected to the stomach. Once the valves are open, the sea star pushes slips its stomach between them and partially digests what's inside. The sea star digests food using juices secreted from the pyloric ceca. Partially digested food goes to the oral stomach first, and then goes to the pyloric stomach. After going through the intestine, indigestible material goes through the rectal ceca and out the anus.
Most sea stars have separate sexes and spawn their gametes into the water for fertilization.
External fertilization must occur in the right light and temperature to be successful. To ensure this success, a sea star will release pheromones with its sperm or eggs to lure others to the area to spawn. A sea star can also reproduce asexually by dividing the central disc in two and regenerating each half. Embryos feed on plankton and are ciliated. After gastrulation, the embryo becomes a larva, which forms arms and grows into a juvenile sea star.