Worm Anatomy•
on December 5th, 2009•
Worms have neither a nose nor lungs to breathe through.
Instead worms absorb oxygen through their skin. In order for the oxygen to travel to the worm’s blood stream, the skin must stay moist. The clitellum produces a mucus and air dissolves on the mucus allowing the worms to breathe. If worms dry out, they suffocate.
As fresh air is taken in through the skin, oxygen is drawn into the worm’s circulatory system, and the worm’s hearts pump the oxygenated blood to the head area. The movements of the worm’s body make the blood flow back to the back end of the body, and the hearts pump the blood forward again. Carbon dioxide dissolves out of the blood back to the skin. – Sonya Welter, eHow Editor
Worm Anatomy•
on December 4th, 2009•
For a really basic explanation on how worms breed: lets start with the “capsule”
The capsule (or egg) lies in the soil for approximately two to three weeks. After this time the self sufficient baby worms (threads) are hatched. Each capsule contains approximately 2 to 20 threads.
60 – 90 days later the mature worms are ready to breed. Mature worms are recognised by their swollen clitellum, which is approximately 1/3rd of their body length back from their mouth.
Two mature worms then mate. Earthworms are hermaphrodites and need another mature worm to mate with before they can perform both the male and female functions.
They twist and turn, for up to 24 hours, and bring their clitellums into contact. Then each male cell exchanges sperm to fertilise.
Mucous is then secreted to cover the clitellum in a band which forces the sperm and eggs together. Now that the fertalised band has formed, each worm wriggles backwards forcing the fertile band over their heads to form a capsule.
Worm Anatomy•
on December 3rd, 2009•
The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, once defined worms as:
“The intestines of the soil”
This isn’t far off the mark.
Basically an earthworm is a large digestive, muscular tube that tunnels it’s way through the soil, consuming at one end and depositing at the other.
Each worm consists of:
- A mouth, but no teeth.
- A throat, but no ears or eyes.
- A capillary system located under the worm’s skin, which acts as the worm’s lungs.
- Setae, which are small spines that are projected from the body wall by muscles and act as anchors. These also play a role in reproduction.
- A heavy-duty digestive system, in which enormous quantities of beneficial organisms are incubated and deposited into the soil with the castings.
- Has 5 pairs of hearts, but no backbone.
- A body consisting of 200-400 muscular rings.
- Kidney type organs called nephridia.
- A brain. (Experiments have shown the removal of the brain causes only slight locomotive change. Both worms with a brain, and those without, perform at essentially the same rates. – Miriam – F. Bennett)
- Clitellum- which is associated with the formation of cocoons and is a glandular portion of the epidermis,
- Varying kinds of pores. These are used for reproduction and excretory purposes.
- A body cavity that is filled with fluid.
- Nerves, muscles, and cells.
- Calciferous glands for neutralising food.
- A crop and gizzard containing stones for grinding up their food.