The headlike segment of a pork tapeworm attaches to a host's intestinal wall using suckers and sometimes hooks.

“A typical species, such as the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), consists of an anterior region known as the scolex, armed with suckers and sometimes hooks, too, for attachment to its host’s internal intestinal wall…” (Shuker 2001:166)

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This video from Shape of Life discusses tapeworm anatomy and reproduction. At about 0:30, the video shows a variety of tapeworms species and the specialized heads that allow them to attached to the intestinal wall of their host.

Last Updated August 18, 2016