Nematodes exhibit this type of locomotion because only longitudinal muscles are present in the body wall. Put a drop of the nematode culture on a slide and add a cover slip. Examine the worms under scanning, low, and high power. Because of their small size and transparency, it is possible to see the internal structures of these small free-living nematodes. The worms can be slowed down to some degree by absorbing some of the water under the cover slip with a piece of a paper toweling - the increased cover slip pressure will immobilize some of the larger worms.
Nematodes move on their side so a lateral view rather than a ventral or dorsal view is seen.
Note that the mouth is terminal at the anterior end and the anus is near the posterior end of the body. The part of the body of the worm posterior to the anus is called the tail. The adult females are larger and have a more pointed tail than the males which have a hooked tail. Examine the larger worms on the slide see if you can distinguish between the male and female worms. Humans can become infected with the trichina worm by eating raw or insufficiently cooked pork.