How to Dissect an Earthworm Online

It won't be this gross on the Internet.

Dissection is an integral part of learning about the anatomy and biological processes that support all life forms. In schools across the world, students regularly cut open the remains of various animals like frogs, piglets and, for more advanced studies, humans for a glimpse at what lies within us all. But not everybody wants to touch, much less dissect, an earthworm. Luckily, a range of online resources are available to keep the learning process as slime-free as possible.

Instructions

1. Learn a little about the anatomy and physical capabilities of the earthworm, or "nightcrawler", before you endeavor to dissect it online. This member of the annelid phylum is a segmented creature that can be found plentifully in hardy soils throughout the world, where as many as 50,000 can populate and fertilize just an acre of land.

2. Navigate to the third link in the Resources section and click on "Virtual Worm Tour."

3. Read the text bubbles from the talking worm to familiarize yourself with the virtual dissection, which uses three-dimensional images to describe the earthworm's various parts. Click on the arrows in the text bubbles after you've read each set of instructions.

4. Click on "Digestive system" on the right pane for the first of biological functions you'll explore during the dissection.

5. Read the text bubbles and advance through the tutorial dissection by clicking the arrows or following the prompts to click on other parts of the screen. Make notes about vocabulary terms you'll be expected to know for later tests. For instance, you'll see how the earthworm's digestive system is a crude version of our own, with a mouth, esophagus, gizzard for teeth, and one long body-length intestine.

6. Continue through the biological functions of the nightcrawler on the right pane tabs, including "Gas Exchange & Excretion System", "Circulatory System", "Reproductive System," and "Muscular System."

Tips & Warnings

• Take a test on your new-found earthworm knowledge at the second Resources link, which includes internal and external anatomy quizzes. You'll reinforce vocabulary terms by placing various names for body parts onto the correct area of an earthworm.

References

• John Sowash, Southfield Christian School: Earthworm Dissection Instructor's Guide

Resources

• McGraw-Hill Virtual Lab: Test Your Earthworm Dissection Knowledge
• YouTube Video: Watch an Earthworm Be Dissection
• Nature Watch: Virtual Earthworm Dissection