Lab 11: Comparative Anatomy and Digestion of Animals

Deep

Away from the body surface.

Superficial

Toward or at the body surface.

Posterior/caudal

towards the bottom

Anterior/cranial

towards the head

Ecosystem Engineer

An organism that can change key properties of the soil, affecting ecosystem functioning and biodiversity.

Earthworm

A native organism to Europe, found in North America, that consumes soil and extracts nutrients from organic material.

Prostomium

The first segment of the earthworm that covers the mouth.

Clitellum

A structure near the anterior end of the earthworm involved in making a gelatinous egg casing during reproduction.

Ventral Surface

Typically lighter colored and may feel slightly rough due to small, hair-like structures for locomotion.

Dorsal Surface

Can be distinguished by a dark line running along it, which is the dorsal vessel.

Pharynx

The region between the mouth and esophagus in earthworms.

Seminal Vesicles

Larger structures in earthworms where sperm matures.

Seminal Receptacles

Smaller, spherical structures in earthworms where sperm is received.

Aortic Arches

Dark, ring-like structures in earthworms that pump blood throughout the body.

Cross-fertilization

The typical reproductive method of earthworms, involving another individual.

Esophagus (earthworm)

is the tube that transports food from the pharynx to the crop.

Crop (earthworm)

stores food (soil).

Gizzard (earthworm)

is muscular and contains small rocks, helping to grind and mechanically digest food.

Intestine (earthworm)

is the site of chemical digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Anus (earthworm)

is where feces is removed.

Esophagus (grasshopper)

is the tube that transports food from the pharynx to the crop.

Crop (grasshopper)

is thin-walled and stores food.

Gizzard (grasshopper)

is muscular and mechanically digests food.

Gastric cecae

dump digestive enzymes into the stomach.

Stomach (ventriculus) and intestine (hind gut)

digest and absorb food; the hind gut also reabsorbs water and houses microbes required to digest cellulose.

Malpighian tubules

secrete nitrogenous waste into the hind gut for excretion.

Feces (grasshopper)

is excreted as moist pellets from the rectum through the anus.

Antennae

are sensory appendages.

Ocelli

function as motion detectors.

Thorax

is posterior to the head; in humans the chest area

Abdomen

is located beneath two sets of wings.

Eastern lubber grasshopper

is an insect native to the southeastern and southcentral U.S. It is herbivorous.

Phylum Arthropoda

is the phylum that includes insects.

First Dorsal Fin

closer to the head than the second dorsal fin.

Pectoral Fins

near the pectoral region.

Anal Fin

near the anus.

Caudal Fin

provides the thrust required to propel the fish.

Lateral Line

enables the fish to detect temperature and pressure changes, and sense water currents.

Gill Rakers

protect the gill filaments and filter/capture food particles passing over the gills.

Esophagus

tube that transports food from the pharynx to the stomach.

Stomach

stores and digests food, consisting of the cardiac region and the pyloric region.

Pyloric Cecae

finger-like projections extending between the stomach and intestine.

Intestine

extends from the stomach to the anus and absorbs nutrients from food.

Liver

metabolizes fats and carbohydrates, and produces bile that emulsifies fats.

Anus

where feces is removed.