How do earthworms facilitate drawing soil into their digestive tract using muscular action?
Answer
Using muscular contractions of the pharynx
The feeding anatomy of the earthworm is characterized by a relatively simple, straight digestive tract running through its body, equipped with a distinct mouth for ingestion. The initial step in processing soil and organic matter involves actively bringing that material into the system. Earthworms accomplish this mechanical ingestion by utilizing powerful muscular contractions specifically within the pharynx, which acts as a muscular pump to draw the necessary substrate—the soil—inward toward the rest of the digestive pathway.
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