Question

Draw a labelled Diagram of the reproductive organs of an earthworm.

Answer 1

Hint: The reproductive organs of earthworm are located towards the distal end of their body. They are hermaphrodites in nature i.e. they have both the male and female reproductive parts.

Complete answer:

Male Reproductive System: -The most important organs are listed below-
1) Testes & Testes Sac: Two pairs of testes are located at the 10th and 11th segments. These produce spermatogonia. The sac is bi-lobed, and the first sac at the 10th segment is larger than the second one.
2) Seminal Vesicles: An earthworm has two pairs of seminal vesicles. The spermatogonia mature in these vesicles and develop into spermatozoa. These are mature sperms; producing them is the main function of testes in earthworms.
3) Seminal Funnel: Earthworms have two pairs of seminal funnels. These are located at the 10th and 11th segments. These ciliated funnels play an essential role in passing on spermatozoa to the Vasa deferentia and onwards.
Female Reproductive System-
The important organs of the female reproductive system of earthworm are -
1) Ovaries: There is a single pair of ovaries attached to the 12th and 13th septa. Ova and multiple ovarian lobules rest within an earthworm ovary.
2) Oviducal Funnel: A saucer-shaped structure, an oviducal funnel is located in the 13th segment. The funnel ends in a short and conical tube-like structure called an oviduct. Two of these oviducts meet at the 14th segment and then open out into the external genital pore.
3)Spermatheca: Each earthworm has 4 pairs of spermatheca. They are flask-shaped and have a short diverticulum. This is the area where sperm is stored. The 4 pairs are located laterally at the 5th to 9th segments.

Note:Labelling of the reproductive organs in the system must be done clearly and properly. The reproduction system must include both male and female reproductive organs. Earthworms are hermaphrodites but they cannot fertilize their own eggs because of their relative position of male and female genital aperture and they are protrandous i.e. male sex mature earlier than female gametes.