Question

Mention briefly about the circulatory system of earthworm

Answer 1

Earthworm possesses a closed type of blood vascular system, as the blood flows through closed blood vessels. Blood is red in colour due to respiratory pigment haemoglobin. Prominent blood vessels in earthworm includes dorsal, ventral, sub- neural, lateral oesophageal and supra- oesophageal blood vessels. There are four pairs of tubular hearts, provided with valves. The anterior two pairs of hearts, known as lateral hearts lie in the 7th and 9th segments and connect the dorsal blood vessel with the ventral blood vessel. They receive blood from the dorsal blood vessel and convey it to the ventral blood vessel. The posterior two pairs of hearts are called latero-oesophageal hearts and are situated in the 12th and 13th segments. The latero-oesophageal hearts apart from connecting the dorsal and ventral blood vessels are also joined with the supra oesophageal blood vessel. Latero-oesophageal hearts carry blood from the dorsal vessel and the supra oesophageal vessel to the ventral blood vessel.Contractions keep blood circulating in one direction. Blood glands are present in the 4th, 5th and 6lh segments which produce blood cells and haemoglobin which is dissolved in blood plasma. Blood cells are phagocytic in nature.