Phylum Platyhelminthes

• Tapeworms, Planaria, Flukes

• Three embryonic germ layers (endoderm,
mesoderm, ectoderm). Germ layers give rise to
internal organs.
Bilateral symmetry
Cephalization (head)

Coelom (Greek for cavity or hollow) = a fluid filled

body cavity
Acoelomates = without coelom
 Form and Function in Flatworms
• Feeding:
• Free-living = carnivores or scavengers
Have digestive cavity, mouth, pharynx
• Parasites: = Feed on blood, tissue fluids, or pieces of cells from within a host
• Most do not have a complete digestive system because they absorb digested
material directly

Response:
• Ganglia = group of nerve cells control the nervous system (like a brain)
• Eyespot = group of cells that can detect light
• Movement:
• Flatworms moves in 2 ways
1) Cilia = helps them glide through water and on stream floors
2) Muscle cells = twist and turn

• Reproduction:
• Sexual Reproduction = Hermaphrodites = has both male and female reproductive
organs
Asexual Reproduction by fission = organism spits in two
 Phylum Nematoda

• Unsegmented worms
Pseudocoelom ("false coelom")
- body cavity contains organs
• Digestive tract with 2 openings, mouth & anus
Form and Function in Roundworms
• Feeding
Free-living - predators
Parasites - humans and animals
• Reproduction: Sexual reproduction,
Separate sexes (male & female)

• Nematodes are responsible for many human

parasitic infections: Ascaris (Quarter of world’s
population is infected with Ascaris), Filarial
worms (Elephantitis), and Hookworm
 Phylum Annelida
• segmented worms,
• true coelom
• Includes: earthworm, marine worms, leeches
• Annelida means "little rings"
 Form and Function in Annelids
• body divided into segments separated by septum
Septum=internal wall
- some have bristles called setae on each
segment
• have closed circulatory system
• have well-developed nervous system with brain
& nerve cords
• sexual reproduction, some are hermaphrodites