- Nematomorpha
- Nem·a·to·mor·pha .nem-ət-ə-'mȯr-fə, nə-.mat-ə- n pl a phylum that is related to the phylum Aschelminthes and comprises the horsehair worms which were formerly often grouped with the nematodes but are distinguished from these by possession of a true body cavity, gonads discontinuous with their ducts, and an atrophied digestive tract in the adultnem·a·to·morph 'nem-ət-ə-.mȯrf, nə-'mat-ə- n or adj
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Nem·a·to·mor·pha (nem″ə-to-morґfə) [Gr. nēma thread + morphē form] a class of the phylum Aschelminthes, consisting of long, slender, cylindrical worms; commonly called hairworms, horse hairs, or hair eels. They are parasitic as juveniles. In some systems of classification, they are considered to be a separate phylum. Called also Gordiacea.
Medical dictionary. 2011.