Question

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given.
What is the name of eight blind tubes which arise from the anterior end of the mesenteron in cockroaches?
(a) Hepatic caeca
(b) Malpighian tubes
(c) Tracheal tubes
(d) Spirades

Answer 1

Hint: Present in the midgut of cockroach helps in digestion and absorption. Midgut surface secretes digestive enzymes like proteases, lipases and carbohydrases help in the digestion of lipids, fats, and carbohydrates. These eight blind tubes are also known as gastric caeca and enteric caeca.

Complete answer:
The alimentary canal of a cockroach is divided into foregut, midgut, and hindgut. Foregut starts from the mouth consists of pharynx, esophagus, crop, and gizzard. A ring of enteric caeca also known as hepatic caeca present at the junction of foregut and midgut. Hepatic caeca is a tubular ring of eight blind caeca which secrete a digestive enzyme which helps in digestion in the cockroach. The midgut is also known as the mesenteron and ventriculus. Hindgut consists of ileum, colon, and rectum which is slightly broader than midgut and helps in the reabsorption of water and other nutrients.

Additional Information: Malpighian tubules are yellowish 150 thin rings present at the junction of midgut and hindgut. Malpighian tubules are the excretory organ in the cockroach, it removes all the metabolic waste from blood like uric acid. The cockroach is a uricotelic animal because of uric acid as an excretory product.
Cockroach also has some accessory excretory organ-like fat bodies, nephrocytes, cuticle, and urecose gland.
Tracheal tubes present in the trachea of cockroach which helps in respiration. The cockroach has a network of tubes also known as trachea which opens outside the body in the form of valves for a gaseous exchange called spiracles. There are 10 pairs of spiracles present in the cockroach. Tracheal tubes lead to tracheoles inside the body which deliver gases by diffusion.

So, the correct answer is Hepatic caeca.

Note: Cockroach feeds on all types of animal and vegetable food, it also feeds on paper and wood. The cockroach is omnivorous and consists of all cellulose, protein, fat, and carbohydrate digesting enzymes similar to an enzyme present in all omnivorous animals. These enzymes are present in the salivary gland and hepatic caeca, which helps in digestion and absorption.