How does an annelids digestive system work?
The digestive tract is divided into several well developed organs: pharynx, esophagus, crop, gizzard, and intestine. The pharynx sucks in dirt which contains microorganisms and other possible materials to be used as food. This material is passed on through the esophagus and into a slightly muscular organ called the crop. Here the food is stored for a short while. The gizzard contains small grains of rock and sand that will mash the food into smaller pieces. Then this mash is sent into the intestine where it its chemically digested and the materials absorbed into the blood. The unused food is passed on out through the earthworm’s anus. This material is called castings and is a good fertilizer.
