Question

Explain why there is a digestive tract of nematodes, but no
digestive glands.

Answer 1

Nematodes are a type of worm-like animals that have a digestive tract to process food and nutrients, but they don't have digestive glands.

Instead of using digestive glands to break down food, nematodes use enzymes produced by their own cells to digest and absorb nutrients in their digestive tract. These enzymes are able to break down the food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the body.

This process of digestion is simple and efficient for nematodes, as they have a relatively small body size and simple digestive system. The absence of digestive glands in nematodes is a characteristic of their biology that has evolved to suit their lifestyle and dietary needs.

Answer 2

Nematodes are roundworms without specialised digesting glands. Their digestive system is instead a straight tube with a mouth on one end and an anus on the other. The mechanical activity of the muscles in the body wall, as well as the action of enzymes generated by the cells lining the gut, break down the meal into smaller bits. These cells take nutrients from meals and transfer them throughout the body.

Nematodes have evolved to be able to survive and reproduce in a wide range of environments and can feed on a variety of different food sources. Their simple digestive system allows them to process food quickly and efficiently, which is essential for their survival in these environments. While they lack specialized digestive glands, nematodes have evolved a variety of mechanisms to break down food and extract nutrients from it.