proglottid

zoology

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July 13, 2026

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A proglottid is a segment of a tapeworm that contains both male and female reproductive organs. Tapeworms are parasitic flatworms that can range in size from less than an inch to over 50 feet long. They attach to a host using a scolex, which may have suckers or hooks.12

Tapeworms lack a digestive tract and absorb nutrients through their body covering. Most tapeworms are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female reproductive organs, and each proglottid can be a self-sufficient reproductive unit. The number of proglottids can vary greatly among different tapeworm species. The term "proglottic" relates to or is characteristic of proglottids.234

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flatworm
External features
…(body) typically consists of numerous proglottids, each of which is usually a self-sufficient reproducing unit with all of the sexual organs necessary to reproduce. The number of proglottids may vary from three in some species to several hundreds in others. Organs of attachment on the scolex may, in addition to…
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…(body) typically consists of numerous proglottids, each of which is usually a self-sufficient reproducing unit with all of the sexual organs necessary to reproduce. The number of proglottids may vary from three in some species to several hundreds in others. Organs of attachment on the scolex may, in addition to…
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tapeworm
…series of identical segments called proglottids. The head, or scolex, bears suckers and often hooks, which are used for attachment to the host. The body covering is a tough cuticle, through which food is absorbed. There is neither a mouth nor a digestive tract. Tapeworms also lack a circulatory system…
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…series of identical segments called proglottids. The head, or scolex, bears suckers and often hooks, which are used for attachment to the host. The body covering is a tough cuticle, through which food is absorbed. There is neither a mouth nor a digestive tract. Tapeworms also lack a circulatory system…
Read More