Where is the cuticle in an earthworm?

The collagenous cuticle of annelids overlies the epidermis and, together with it, lines the gut, genital and excretory openings to various degrees, and also the chaetal follicles in polychaetes and oligochaetes. The cuticle is perforated by openings from the epidermal gland cells and by sense cells (see Chap. 17).

What is the function of cuticle in animals?

cuticle In plants, a thin, waxy, protective layer covering the surface of the leaves and stems. In animals, a layer covering, and secreted by, the epidermis. In invertebrates, it is mainly protective against mechanical or (in endoparasites, see parasitism) chemical damage.

How do earthworms keep their skin moist?

The earthworm’s skin is kept moist by a slimy mucus produced by epithilial cells. This mucus also helps to trap and dissolve oxygen from the air. The skin is also kept wet by Page 3 body fluid that is excreted through pores between the body segments. Earthworms also keep their skin moist through their behavior.

What role do the cuticle play specifically in parasitic nematodes?

All nematodes are encased in an exoskeleton (known as the cuticle), a structure key to the success and diversity of nematode species. This complex extracellular matrix covers the outermost layer of cells and is required for body shape, movement, and functions as the primary interface with the environment (Fig.

What is the purpose of the nematodes cuticle?

The cuticle of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans forms the barrier between the animal and its environment. In addition to being a protective layer, it is an exoskeleton which is important in maintaining and defining the normal shape of the nematode.

What is the meaning of cuticle in biology?

cuticle, the outer layer or part of an organism that comes in contact with the environment. In some higher plants, the cuticle is a water-impervious protective layer covering the epidermal cells of leaves and other parts and limiting water loss.

What is the main function of cuticle in plants?

Plant cuticle is the outermost layer of plants, which covers leaves, fruits, flowers, and non-woody stems of higher plants. It protects plants against drought, extreme temperatures, UV radiation, chemical attack, mechanical injuries, and pathogen/pest infection.

What is the function of cuticle in a leaf?

In some higher plants, the cuticle is a water-impervious protective layer covering the epidermal cells of leaves and other parts and limiting water loss. It consists of cutin, a waxy, water-repellent substance allied to suberin, which is found in the cell walls of corky tissue.

Do earthworms have gills?

Unlike polychaetes, earthworms lack gills and take in oxygen through their skin, one reason why they most live in moist soils.

How is cuticle flexible and rigid?

The layer of epithelium on the basement membrane produces the cuticle, which begins as a tough, flexible layer of chitin. To achieve such rigidity the outer chitin layer of the cuticle is impregnated, thickened, and reinforced with harder, more brittle materials such as sclerotinised proteins or calcite.

What is cuticle and write its function?

In plants cuticle is the layer of wax and cutin that covers the outermost surfaces of a plant. The cuticle is secreted by the epidermis and helps prevent water loss and infection by parasites.

What is the cuticle of an earthworm?

The outermost layer of the earthworm body wall is the cuticle – a delicate membrane of fibrils that, along with the mucus that covers the. skin of the worm, helps retain water. Earthworms generally require moist habitats and are in a sense only partially adapted to life on land. as they rapidly desiccate if caught in sunlight.

What is the function of the cuticle in a winworm?

Worms have need to conserve water living in the soil as they do. But then, living in soil is a rather rough place to live so the cuticle protects the epidermis from abrasion from soil particles.

What is the function of the cuticle?

Function The cuticle is a multi-functional exoskeleton. It is a highly impervious barrier between the animal and its environment. It is essential for maintenance of body morphology and integrity, and has a critical role in locomotion via attachments to body-wall muscles ( Kramer et al., 1988; Von Mende et al., 1988; Johnstone et al., 1992 ).

What is the lining of the earthworm’s body?

Inside the longitudinal muscle is a layer of connective tissue and a layer of flattened epithelial cells (not visible in this section) that forms the innermost lining of the body wall and the lining of the coelom and is called the peritoneum. The earthworm body wall is richly supplied by blood.