Question

List how food passes through the earthworms digestive tract. Know the function of each part of the digestive tract that food crosses from mouth to anus?

Answer 1

Mouth: Ingestion of food such as soil takes place through the mouth.

Buccal Cavity: Buccal cavity protrude out through mouth with the help of special muscle for holding the food particles during feeding. Buccal cavity leads into the pharynx.

Pharynx: The chromaphil cells of pharyngeal gland, produce saliva containing proteolytic enzyme; protease and mucin. Mucin makes the food soft and protease converts protein into amino acid.

Oesophagus: The calciferous glands in the oesophagus release calcium carbonate that helps neutralizing the acids formed in the decayed food matter and to rid the earthworm’s body of excess calcium.

Gizzard: It helps in grinding or crushing food so act as grinder during feeding.

Stomach: It has calciferous gland which helps in neutralization of food by calcification process.The glandular cell of stomach produce proteolytic enzymes for the digestion of protein.

Intestine: Intestinal caeca produce amylase which helps in starch(carbohydrate) digestion. The intestines gland cells in the intestine release fluids to aid in the digestive process. The intestinal wall contains blood vessels where the digested food is absorbed and transported to the rest of the body.

excretory organ: Undigested food materials release out through excretory organ in the form of worm casting