Explain the nervous system of earthworm with the help of diagram.

Nervous System

• Represented by ganglia, which are arranged segment wise on the ventral-paired nerve cord

• The nerve cord in the anterior region (3^rd and 4^th segments) bifurcates and joins the cerebral ganglia to form a nerve ring.

• Cerebral ganglia and other nerves:

  • Integrate sensory input

  • Command muscular responses of the body

• Earthworms lack eyes, but do posses light and touch-sensitive organs.

• Have specialised chemoreceptors (taste receptors) which react to chemical stimuli

• Sense organs are located on the anterior part of the body.