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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
|
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an accordion-like tube that contains sperm and is the site of oocyte fertilization. |
spermatheca
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WBbt:0005319
|
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Epidermal layer. |
hypodermis
|
epidermis |
WBbt:0005733
|
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the feeding organ, a neuro-muscular pump in the head of the animal, used to ingest food, bacteria suspended in liquid, filter them out, grind them up and transport posteriorly into the instestine. |
pharynx
|
esophagus |
WBbt:0003681
|
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H-shaped cell associated with the excretory system, largest cell in C. elegans. |
excretory cell
|
excretory canal cell |
WBbt:0005812
|
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Four processes (canals) of the excretory canal cell each contain a central collecting lumen which feeds to a central lumenal canal in the cell body; the central canal forms a specialized membrane to release fluids into the excretory duct. These five canals form a continuous H-shaped channel which extends almost the full length of the body, generally in contact with the lateral hypodermis and the pseudocoelom. |
excretory canal
|
canal |
WBbt:0005775
|
