Movement & Feeding habits of nematode

Movement of Nematodes

Nematodes are covered by an outer cuticle that is structured so as to maintain the body at a constant diameter while allowing longitudinal flexibility. Since nematodes have longitudinally arranged but no circular muscles, contraction of muscles bend the body dorsally or ventrally. Since the cuticle prevents radial swelling, contraction of one muscle group will stretch another. This situation ensures that the dorsal and ventral muscles will act antagonistically to each other, allowing nematodes to move in a sinusoidal manner by undulating waves of muscle contractions. These movements allow nematodes to move among soil particles and swim in body fluids of a host.

Feeding habits:

• Many intestinal nematodes are closely applied to the mucosal surface.
• Some swallow ingesta & host secretions e.g. intestinal debris, mucus, bacteria, cells of the intestinal mucosa etc.
• Other suck a plug of mucosa into the buccal cavity (plug feeder) leaving a circular ulcer.
• Yet others burry heads deep in to the mucosa & suck blood (haematophagus).