How to dissect an

earthworm?
PRESENTED BY: SADIA HAIDER (30)
How to dissect an earthworm?

PURPOSE:
We dissect an earthworm in order to observe the external and internal
structures of earthworm anatomy. Name the organs that make up various
systems of the earthworm.
Classification of earthworm

Phylum: Annelida
Class: Clitellata
Family: Lumbricidae
Order: Megadrilacea
Genus: Lumbricus
Specie: terrestris
Material required:

 Safety goggles
 Dissecting pins
 Gloves
 Forceps
 Lab coat
 Scissors
 Scalpel
 Handlens
 Dissecting tray
 Preserved earthworm
Procedure:

 Get a worm from your backyard, a gardening or pet store or

online
You can find a worm in your yard using a small shovel to dig into the soil of a
dark, damp area in your yard. Then, gently break up the soil until you locate a
worm. You can also buy them at some gardening stores or pet store. Eartworms
may also come out after a rainstorm. Some online retailer sell worms specifically
prepared for dissection.
Earthworm Collection
Procedure:

 Put the worm in a bowl of 50% alcohol:

The alcohol causes the body and the muscles to relax. Without that, the
worm will most likely be stiff and contracted, making for a harder time
dissecting. If the worm is already dead, make sure the body is still soft
and flexible. Immediately place it in alcohol to preserve the body. After
few minutes, remove the worm and lightly pat it with a paper towel.
Earthworm preservation
Procedure:

 Put on your personal protective gear.

Just because it’s a dissection of an earthworm doesn’t mean you can be lax on
safety. Wear eye protection, rubber gloves and lab coat. Clean all your equipment
before and after you go through dissection.
 Feel for bristles on the body of earthworm.
Turn side of the body of earthworm down, facing the surface of the tray. The
smoother side should face upward, towards you.
Placing of earthworm on dissecting tray
Procedure:

 Attach a pin to each end of worm.

This way, you will avoid accidentally moving it around as you dissect it. Put the
pin in as close as to the end as you can without tearing worm. Then, stretch the
worm taut and put a pin in the other end.
Procedure:

 Observe external parts of body.

Use a hand lens to observe all external parts of body.
 shape of body
 mouth
 anus
 clitellum
 bristles
Procedure:

 Cutting of the body of earthworm.

Using a scalpel and scissors, make a shallow incision in the dorsal
side of clitellum. Separate each septum from the central tube using a
dissecting needle or forcep, and pin down each loosened bit of skin. This
is to keep skin from receding back into the body when you are examining
it.
Cutting of earthworm
Procedure:

 Observation of internal structures.

 Circulatory system:
Identify the five pairs of aortic arches or heart. Then, find the dorsal
blood vessel. Look for smaller
blood vessel that are branched
from dorsal blood vessel.
Procedure:

 Observation of internal structures.

Digestive system:
Starting at anterior end, after the mouth, there is muscular pharynx. This is
followed by a tube-like esophagus which terminates in a crop which serves as a
storage stomach. Posterior to the crop, you will find the gizzard. The gizzard is
following by a long intestine in which both digestion and absorption occur.
Undigestid material is voided by the anus. Digestive system lies below the dorsal
blood vessel.
Digestive system of worm
Procedure:

 Observation of internal structures.

Nervous system:
To find organs of the nervous system, push aside the digestive and circulatory
system organs. Below it, there is ventral nerve cord. Trace the nerve cord forward
to nerve collar. Find one pair of ganglia under pharynx and another pair of
ganglia above the pharynx. The ganglia above the pharynx serve as brain of the
earthworm.
Nervous system of worm
Procedure:

 Observation of internal structures.

Excretory system:
The worm’s excretory organs are tiny nephridia. There are two in each
segment.
Procedure:

 Observation of internal structures.

Reproductive system:
Identify the pair of ovaries in segment 13. Look for two pairs of tiny testes in
segment
10 and 11.
Procedure:

 Remove the pins.

Each pin should be removed carefully. Place the pins in a cup or tray.
Procedure:

 Dispose the worm.

When you have finished inspecting the organs and taking notes. It’s not
considered hazardous waste, they may be placed in regular landfill trash.
Procedure:

 Clean up:
Disinfect your tools with rubbing alcohol. Wash your hands with soap and warm
water. Thoroughly remove any blood or other remnants of the body from your
workspace.
How to dissect an earthworm?

 Observation:
Draw the labelled diagram of structures of earthworm.
 Result:
We dissected an earthworm and, observed and studied all internal and external
structures.