Lab 4 - Nematodes
This activity gives the students the opportunity to learn and explore the Phylum Nematoda – The Roundworms. The Nematodes typically are bilaterally symmetrical, elongated, tapered at both ends, possess a pseudocoel (false body cavity) derived from the embryonic blastocoels. They are widely distributed and they include terrestrial, freshwater, marine and parasitic forms. Members of this phylum are differentiated from other pseudocoelomate groups based on their possession of spicules and ventral excretory pore.
In this exercise, students will investigate the diversity of the Phylum Nematoda particularly those belonging to the Classes Secernentea or Rhabditia (Phasmidia) and Adenophorea or Enoplea (Aphasmidia). Please open your parasitology lab manual and work on activity for nematodes. Make visual illustrations to study the morphological forms of the parasite for ease in identification.