Nematodes Flashcards
(267 cards)
What does nema mean?
Thread
What are some features of nematodes?
Unsegmented, acoelomate, moults between stages
Most are free living 70% abundant in soil and marine sediments
What are the two origins of nematodes?
Plant parasitic nematodes
Free-living soil nematodes
General characteristics of nematodes
* unisexual- therefore separate sexes
* females are usually longer than males
* size varies drastically 1 mm- 9 meters
*body is covered by cuticle (produced by hypodermis)
*digestive system- mouth, oesophagus, intestine, anus
* Pseudocoelome- maintains a high hydrostatic pressure to help them move
* fluid is important in terms of movement of these worms
What is the cuticle? When is it shed?
Outer layer- keratin, inner layer- collagen
Cuticle is shed during moulting
Hypodermis
Found under the cuticle- secretes cuticle
Muscles in nematodes
Only longitudinal muscles (no circular- which would help with movement)
What is the hydrostatic skeleton?
Pseudocoelomic fluid and muscles function as a hydrostatic skeleton- S-shaped locomotion. 3 things together help nematodes to move
Nervous system of nematodes
2 ganglia (bunches of nerves)
anterior- oesophageal ring (dorsal, ventral, and two lateral nerves)
posterior- rectal ring
AcH and GABA (neurotransmitters- which are important targets for drugs to control)
Excretory- secretory system
Tubular
Two lateral canals
Open at ventral excretory pore
paired glands open into pore
Secretions of glands- immunogenic (produces an immune response)

Dorsal nerve
cuticle
ovary
pseudocoelom
intestine
excretory canal
uterus
muscle
hypodermis
ventral nerve
Cephalic region = head, lips, etc

P= papillae
I= inner
O= outer
C= cephalic
A= amphids
Lips can be replaced by what?
Hooks or teeth (probolae)
What are the papillae for?
What are the amhids for?
touch, taste (pore-like)
taste (slits)
Lancet or cutting plate
What they use to suck blood

a. leaf crown
b. buccal capsule (teeth and dorsal gutter)
c. dorsal gutter (takes enzymes and other substances produced at the base of the buccal capsule to the mouth- for example anticoagulants produced because they suck blood)
Hypodontus macropi
Colon or kangaroos

Hypodontus macropi- colon of kangaroos
Oesophagus
Acts like a pump with various valves that prevent back movement of food. 6 different shapes.
Male reproductive organs

Testis, tubular in nature, ejaculatory duct with muscle- for semen
Copulatory bursa- expansion of cuticle
Spicules- copulatory organ- usually in pairs.
Gubernaculum- cuticle plate present on the dorsal surface
Telamon- cuticle plate present on the ventral surface
Female reproductive system

1 to 2 tubular ovaries, uteri, ovijector (musclar part of uterus), and vulval flap (important for taxonomy)
Oviparous
Produces eggs with embryonic material (size helps to ID nematode)
Ovoviviparous
Eggs containing larvae
Viviparous
Eggs hatch within female reproductive organs and only larvae come out










































