Chapter 13 - Introduction to Phylum Platyhelminthes.ppt

Chapter 13 - Introduction to Phylum Platyhelminthes * * General Characteristics Bilaterally symmetrical; dorsoventrally flattened Acoelomates; most of the body is comprised of parenchyma, a collection of fibers and cell types (sensory, food storage, etc.); internal organs are embedded in the parenchyma; muscle fibers are also found running through the parenchyma Unable to synthesize fatty acids and sterols de novo Turbellaria and free-living stages (certain larval stages) of Class Cestoidea and Trematoda have ciliated epithelium General Characteristics cont. The nervous system does have a centralized (ganglionated) area and a peripheral system (arranged as a network or as a ladderlike system with longitudinal nerve cords and transverse commissures) The digestive system is typically a blind sac and most flatworms have a mouth near the anterior end followed by a muscular pumping pharynx Osmoregulatory system is comprised of flame cells or protonephridia; water and waste exit the body through pores called nephridiopores General Characteristics cont. Anus absent; wastes are eliminated through the mouth or via nephridiopores In some the gut is a simple sac, while in others it is finely branched structure; some groups (cestodes) the gut is lacking General Characteristics cont. Most species are monoecious, with cross fertilization In some turbellarians and cestodes groups sperm transfer is by hypodermic impregnation Platyhelminths Systematics Traditional Classification Scheme 1. Class Turbellaria: Most free-living worms from terrestrial, FW and marine environments 2. Class Monogenea: All parasitic, mainly ectoparasites of fishes (e.g. found on the skin and gills) 3. Class Trematoda: All parasitic, mainly in the digestive tract of vertebrates a. Subclass Digenea - at least a 2 host life cycle; first host is a mollusc b. Subclass Aspidogastrea - most with only one host (mollusc) c. Didymozoidea - tissue dwelling parasites of fish 4. Class Ce