Leech T.S

Phylum: Annelida

Class: Oligochaeta



Coelmic cavity is filled with botryoidal tissues.

Body wall is composed of thin cuticle, epidermis dermis, thin circular muscle layer, thick longitudinal muscle layer, dorso – ventral oblique and ventral muscles and botryoidal tissues.

Crop is composed of cuticle, longitudinal and circular muscles and thin internal epithelial lining of prismatic nucleated cells.

Epithelial lining is thrown into short folds.

Dorsal, ventral and lateral haemocoelic channels along with their vessels and ventral nerve cord in ventral vessel are present.

Cavity of the crop and its diverticula is continuous giving 3 chambered appearance, segmental organs or nephridia are also seen.

Crop or its diverticula are capable of great dialation to store large quantity of blood.