The endoskeleton of echinoderms (Deuterostomia: Echinodermata) is of mesodermal origin and consists of cells, organic components, as well as an inorganic mineral matrix. The echinoderm skeleton forms a complex lattice-system, which represents a model structure for naturally inspired engineering in terms of construction, mechanical behaviour and functional design. The sea urchin (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) endoskeleton consists of three main structural components: test, dental apparatus and accessory appendages. Although, all parts of the echinoid skeleton consist of the same basic material, their microstructure displays a great potential in meeting several mechanical needs according to a direct and clear structure–function relationship. This versatility has allowed the echinoid skeleton to adapt to different activities such as structural support, defence, feeding, burrowing and cleaning. Although, constrained by energy and resource efficiency, many of the structures found in the echinoid skeleton are optimized in terms of functional performances. Therefore, these structures can be used as role models for bio-inspired solutions in various industrial sectors such as building constructions, robotics, biomedical and material engineering. The present review provides an overview of previous mechanical and biomimetic research on the echinoid endoskeleton, describing the current state of knowledge and providing a reference for future studies.

棘皮动物（Deuterostomia：Echinodermata）的内骨骼起源于中胚层，由细胞、有机成分以及无机矿物基质组成。棘皮动物骨架形成了一个复杂的格子系统，在构造、力学行为和功能设计方面代表了自然启发工程的模型结构。海胆（棘皮动物门：Echinoidea) 内骨骼由三个主要结构部件组成：测试、牙科器械和附件附件。尽管海胆骨架的所有部分都由相同的基本材料组成，但它们的微观结构根据直接而清晰的结构-功能关系，在满足多种机械需求方面显示出巨大的潜力。这种多功能性使海胆骨架能够适应不同的活动，例如结构支撑、防御、进食、挖洞和清洁。尽管受到能源和资源效率的限制，海胆骨架中的许多结构在功能性能方面都得到了优化。因此，这些结构可以作为仿生解决方案的榜样，应用于各种工业领域，如建筑施工、机器人技术、生物医学和材料工程。