Leeches :: essays research papers

LeechesThe leech is a segmented worm that in all actuallity has a actually vivid life. From being used by doctors to just being blood- runing parasites, the leech is a true wonder of the mind.The leech has a series of ring-like segments that make up its bodystructure. They maybe from 2 to 20 centimeters long and have the ability toshorten or lengthen their bodies. They mostly come in colors of black, vehementor brown, sometimes with stripes or spots. They are extremely sensitive to touch, temperatue, and drying out. Also, they have clusters of cells on thefront end thatare light-sensative, almost like eyes. Leeches usually perish in dark, damp areas such as the bottoms of lakes, jungels, or sh give streams.Finally, the leech is a Hermaphrodit, containing bot male and female sexualreproductive organs.With a sucker at both ends of its body, the leech usually lives as a parasite, feeding upon the blood and tissue of other animals, or on decayingplant and animal materials. It has a lip centered on the front sucker withteeth in some cases. Leeches, that are parasites, attach to their victim with thefront sucker, create a wound, then suck out blood with, usually, both suckers.Blood-sucking leeches give out a liquid substance called Hirudin. This chemical prevents the blood from thickening and enables the blood to be easily sucked by the leech.Doctors once used leeches, or what they called medicinal leeches, to remove blood from patients in an orderly manner. The first clinical use of leeches in this fashion occured approximatly 2,500 years ago. Since the leeches burn up produces a small cleeding wound ,that mimics a venous circulation in an area of compromised tissue, the leech is particlarly valuable for reconstruction surgery. Special properties of the bite, such as the chemical hirudin, allow continued bleeding for up to 48 hours after the leech