Earthworms
These types of Annelids do not have inner blood vessels and use a protonephridia, dead-end tubules and flame cells, to excrete urinary waste. These flame cells aid in the worms urinary process as it moves the urine throughout the body. The urinary waste moves throughout these tubules, in its own filtration system, and is then removed through the anus or through pores along the earthworms segmented body. |
Leeches
These types of Annelids have a Nephridia, coiled tubules with an expanded funnel-shaped nephrostome. This is attached to the septum and opens in the anterior segment. The tubule opens in the body wall through the posterior segment. The urinary waste moves throughout these inner tubules and is removed in the posterior segement, which is also the way the leech reguates its inner water content. |
Ragworms
These types of Annelids have a gut-like structure mesenteries, vertical parititions within its segements, and an anus below pygidium. They have inner blood vessels that use metanephridia, similiar to kidneys in humans. They use a filtration system in which inner fluids are filtered and urinary waste moves throughout the body passing the kidney-like structure, blood vessels, and finally is released by the anus or openings in the body's segments. |