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Earthworms eat dirt, but most of the dirt moves through their body and is deposited as waste. The waste of earthworms is called casts. There is much more to the earthworm’s digestive system than just eating and pooping dirt. An earthworm’s digestive system consists of a mouth,a pharynx, an esophagus, a crop, a gizzard and an intestine.
Food particles pass from the worm’s mouth to its pharynx where the food is lubricated by mucus secretions. The food is very slimy now, which makes it easier to pass along to the esophagus. Food passes from the esophagus to the crop, which is a temporary food storage area. In the crop the food gets mixed together. Earthworms do not have teeth to grind their food, but the muscles of their gizzard churns and mixes the food. Since earthworms eat dirt, the sand grains grind against the food tearing it into smaller and smaller parts then it is moved in the intestine. where there are friendly bacteria that eat the food mixture. As the bacteria digest the food, the bacteria use what it needs and the rest is waster for the bacteria. This waste contains the nutrients that the earthworm’s body needs. The blood carries the nutrients to all parts of the earthworm’s body. The end of the intestine, called the anus, is open and it is here where waste is excreted from the worm’s body.
Food particles pass from the worm’s mouth to its pharynx where the food is lubricated by mucus secretions. The food is very slimy now, which makes it easier to pass along to the esophagus. Food passes from the esophagus to the crop, which is a temporary food storage area. In the crop the food gets mixed together. Earthworms do not have teeth to grind their food, but the muscles of their gizzard churns and mixes the food. Since earthworms eat dirt, the sand grains grind against the food tearing it into smaller and smaller parts then it is moved in the intestine. where there are friendly bacteria that eat the food mixture. As the bacteria digest the food, the bacteria use what it needs and the rest is waster for the bacteria. This waste contains the nutrients that the earthworm’s body needs. The blood carries the nutrients to all parts of the earthworm’s body. The end of the intestine, called the anus, is open and it is here where waste is excreted from the worm’s body.