Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search
no edit summary
Line 31: Line 31:  
The reproductive systems are major organs of the nematodes and can occupy a large portion of the body cavity in males and females. There are many morphological and physiological differences between the species and so they are separated here.
 
The reproductive systems are major organs of the nematodes and can occupy a large portion of the body cavity in males and females. There are many morphological and physiological differences between the species and so they are separated here.
 
====Males====
 
====Males====
Males are either monorchic (most secernentea)  or diorchic (most Adenophera), with regards to the number of testis present. The testis are tubular structures lined with epithelium and glandular tissue, sperm are produced at the end and mature as they migrate towards the shared opening of the cloaca.  
+
Males are either monorchic (most secernentea)  or diorchic (most Adenophera), with regards to the number of testis present. The testis are tubular structures lined with epithelium and glandular tissue, sperm are produced at the end and mature as they migrate towards the shared opening of the cloaca. Many males have paired chitinous protrusion from the cloaca known as '''spicules''', these are used for attaching to a female during copulation. The spicules are easily seen under a microscope due to their chitinous structure and their position and shape may be used as an identifying feature.  
    
====Females====
 
====Females====
485

edits

Navigation menu