The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth of an earthworm to its digestive tract. In addition to being a conduit for food, it also helps propel food into the mouth and grind it up with saliva before swallowing.

The esophagus of an earthworm is made up of two parts: the cardiac region and the pyriform region. The cardiac region is located near the head end of the worm, while the pyriform region is at its tail end. These two sections are connected by a constriction called a chink, or sphincter muscle. This sphincter opens when food enters and closes when it leaves so that no waste can pass through it accidentally.

In order to keep waste inside its body, an earthworm produces mucus as it moves along its burrow. This mucus covers its body in a slimy coating that helps prevent dirt from entering its body through its skin as well as lubricates its passage through soil.

Last modified: September 19, 2022