A chain of very large cuboidal cells forming a wide central lumen in which food arrives from the posterior pharynx, is digested, and from which waste products proceed to the rectum. Intestinal rings form in groups of two and four cells surrounding the common lumen; thus the epithelium is only one cell deep at any point, with neighboring cells firmly secured to their neighbors by apical adherens junctions. These cells have very large nuclei and many large vacuoles, yolk granules, and other inclusions; the latter increase in number and electron density as the animal ages. |
intestine
|
gut |
WBbt:0005772
|
Epidermal layer. |
hypodermis
|
epidermis |
WBbt:0005733
|
H-shaped cell associated with the excretory system, largest cell in C. elegans. |
excretory cell
|
excretory canal cell |
WBbt:0005812
|
a group of hypodermal cells that lie along the apical midline of the hypodermis, at the extreme left and right sides between nose and tail |
seam cell
|
lateral hypodermis |
WBbt:0005753
|
posterior region, from rectum to the end |
tail
|
|
WBbt:0005741
|