vermiform

Vermiform is an adjective of Latin origin, from vermis meaning worm and forma meaning shape. It is used in biology and medicine to describe something that has a worm-like, elongated appearance. The term conveys form rather than function and is typically employed as a morphological descriptor.

In anatomy, the best-known usage is in reference to the vermiform appendix, a narrow, blind-ended tube that projects from the cecum of the large intestine. The name reflects its slender, worm-like shape. The term does not imply that the organ is an actual worm; it simply describes its appearance.

Beyond the intestine, vermiform is used to describe other worm-shaped features in animals and in developmental or comparative contexts. In zoology and paleontology, researchers may refer to vermiform organs, larvae, or fossil forms to indicate a long, cylindrical body plan that resembles a worm. The word is also employed in anatomical descriptions of various structures in invertebrates and, occasionally, in botany or embryology to denote worm-like forms.

In summary, vermiform is a descriptive, neutral term applied to anything worm-shaped. It is most familiarly encountered in discussions of the vermiform appendix and is used to communicate morphology without implying that the object is an actual worm.