The Nematoda possess an elongated and thread-like form.

NEMATODA, in zoology, a group of worms. The name Nematoda (Gr.

The Nematoda which are parasitic during their whole life may similarly be divided into two classes - those which undergo their development in a single host, and those which undergo their development in the bodies of two distinct hosts.

CHAETOSOMATIDA, a small group of minute, free-living, aquatic organisms which are usually placed as an annex to the Nematoda.

Indeed Mechnikov, to whom we owe much of our knowledge of these forms, calls them "creeping Nematoda."

The muscles are striated and arranged in four quadrants, two dorso-lateral and two ventro-lateral, an arrangement which recalls that of the Nematoda, whilst in their histology they somewhat resemble the muscles of the Oligochaeta.

It has certain histological resemblances with the Nematoda and certain primitive Annelids, but little stress must be laid on these.

The Nematomorpha form an isolated group; at first sight they seem to be connected with the Nematoda, but in reality their only common feature is the tubular genitalia opening into a cloaca, and it seems at present impossible to connect them with the Annelida.

Those that are usually dwelt on are treated with the Rotifers and Nematoda and Turbellaria.

NEMATODA, in zoology, a group of worms. The name Nematoda (Gr.

The Nematoda possess an elongated and thread-like form (see fig.

It is impossible, however, to draw a strict line of demarcation between the free and parasitic species, since - (I) many of the so-called free Nematoda live in the slime of molluscs (Villot), and are therefore really parasitic; (2) while certain species belonging to the freeliving genus Anguillula are normally parasitic (e.g.

The Nematode parasites of the Invertebrata are usually immature forms which attain their full development in the body of some vertebrate; but there are a number of species which in the sexually adult condition are peculiar to the Invertebrata.2 The Nematoda contain about as many parasitic species as all the other groups of internal parasites taken together; they are found in almost all the organs of the body, and by their presence, especially when encysted in the tissues and during their migration from one part of the body to another, give rise to various pathological conditions.

The Nematoda which are parasitic during their whole life may similarly be divided into two classes - those which undergo their development in a single host, and those which undergo their development in the bodies of two distinct hosts.

CHAETOSOMATIDA, a small group of minute, free-living, aquatic organisms which are usually placed as an annex to the Nematoda.

Indeed Mechnikov, to whom we owe much of our knowledge of these forms, calls them "creeping Nematoda."

Nematoda (see Nematode).

The muscles are striated and arranged in four quadrants, two dorso-lateral and two ventro-lateral, an arrangement which recalls that of the Nematoda, whilst in their histology they somewhat resemble the muscles of the Oligochaeta.

It has certain histological resemblances with the Nematoda and certain primitive Annelids, but little stress must be laid on these.

The Nematomorpha form an isolated group; at first sight they seem to be connected with the Nematoda, but in reality their only common feature is the tubular genitalia opening into a cloaca, and it seems at present impossible to connect them with the Annelida.

The thick-skinned round worms, such as the common horse-worm and the threadworms (see Nematoda), together with the Nematomorpha, Chaetosomatida, Desmoscolecida and Acanthocephala, form a fairly natural group. The Rotifera, with probably the Kinorhyncha and Gastrotricha, are again isolated.

Those that are usually dwelt on are treated with the Rotifers and Nematoda and Turbellaria.