Lampito mauritii · Part 5

are not present in many species of earthworms such as the Lampito mauritii . XI Std Biology-Zoology Chapter- Longitudinal muscle relaxed (extended) Longitudinal muscle contracted Head Bristles Circular muscle contracted Circular muscle relaxed The earthworms normally crawl with the help of their body muscles, setae, and buccal chamber. The outer circular and inner longitudinal muscle layers lies below the epidermis of the body wall. The contraction of circular muscles makes the body long and narrow, while that of the longitudinal muscle makes the body short and broad. The locomotion of the earthworm is brought about by the contraction and relaxation of the muscular body wall and is aided by the turgence of the coelomic fluid hence called the Hydrostatic skeleton. The alternate waves of extensions and contractions are aided by the leverage afforded by the buccal chamber and the setae.