What structural system maintains the form and movement of worms instead of bone or cartilage?
Answer
Hydrostatic skeleton
Worms lack a rigid internal skeleton composed of bone or cartilage, and they do not possess an external shell. Instead, their structural support and capacity for movement are maintained by a hydrostatic skeleton. This system operates based on the sustained pressure exerted by an internal fluid held within the body cavity. When muscles contract against this contained fluid pressure, the body gains temporary rigidity, allowing the worm to resist external forces, push against the substrate, and execute precise movements essential for locomotion and burrowing.
Related Questions
What structural system maintains the form and movement of worms instead of bone or cartilage?What fundamental physical characteristics do worms generally lack, defining their body type?Which muscle layer contracts when a worm actively lengthens and becomes thinner during movement?What condition must the epidermis of an earthworm maintain for the process of cutaneous respiration to function?What feature allows earthworms, members of the Annelida phylum, to be classified by external rings?What is the primary reproductive role of the noticeable, swollen structure called the clitellum on an earthworm?How is the body profile of Platyhelminthes (flatworms) distinctly described?What are the repeating units seen in a tapeworm called, and how do they fundamentally differ from annelid segments?Which group of worms represents the largest physical extreme mentioned, capable of reaching lengths of several meters?How do earthworms facilitate drawing soil into their digestive tract using muscular action?