Final answer:
Armed tapeworms have a scolex with hooks, which provides stronger attachment to the host's intestine, whereas unarmed tapeworms lack these hooks. The presence of hooks can influence the severity of the tapeworm infection, as seen with the pork tapeworm versus the beef tapeworm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term armed tapeworm refers to tapeworm species that have a scolex equipped with hooks, whereas an unarmed tapeworm lacks these hooks. The scolex is the head region of a tapeworm, which it uses to attach to the intestinal wall of its host. The hooks provide a stronger attachment mechanism, which can be important for the tapeworm's ability to maintain its position in the intestine despite the movements and digestive processes of the host.
Examples of armed tapeworms include Taenia solium (the pork tapeworm), which has both s and hooks on its scolex. In contrast, Taenia saginata (the beef tapeworm) is considered to be an unarmed tapeworm because it only has s and no hooks. While both kinds of tapeworms can cause infection in humans through the consumption of undercooked, contaminated meat, the presence or absence of hooks can influence the pathology of the infection. Armed tapeworms like T. solium can lead to more severe conditions due to the larval stage migrating and colonizing tissues outside of the intestine, including the central nervous system.