Summary
Unsegmented worms with a complete digestive tract, including parasitic hookworms.
In depth
Phylum Nematoda. Cylindrical, pseudocoelomate with a cuticle, moulting, and longitudinal muscles only, giving thrashing movement. C. elegans is a major model organism with exactly 959 somatic cells in the adult hermaphrodite.
Roundworms have a complete gut and a pseudocoelom. Many are parasites; most are free-living. They are extremely abundant in soil and sediments.
Example: Trichinella causes trichinosis from undercooked pork.
Frequently asked questions
What is Roundworms?
Unsegmented worms with a complete digestive tract, including parasitic hookworms.
Which area of biology covers Roundworms, and how advanced is it?
Roundworms is one of the 53 topics in Zoology & Animal Diversity. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Flatworms, Animal Skeletons, Annelids.
Can you give an example of Roundworms?
Ascaris and hookworms infect over a billion people.
What should I learn before Roundworms?
Roundworms is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Zoology & Animal Diversity that pair well with it include Animal Kingdom, Vertebrates and Invertebrates, Sponges.
What topics are related to Roundworms?
The closest topics to Roundworms are Flatworms, Animal Skeletons, Annelids, Cnidarians. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Roundworms?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Roundworms. To practise the whole of Zoology & Animal Diversity, use the Zoology & Animal Diversity quiz.
How is Roundworms different from Flatworms?
Roundworms: Unsegmented worms with a complete digestive tract, including parasitic hookworms. Flatworms: Soft-bodied, bilaterally symmetric worms with no body cavity, including tapeworms and flukes. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Roundworms step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Flatworms and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Zoology & Animal Diversity quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.