(a) : Eggs of Taenia undergo cleavage to form morula. Morula, at its morphologically posterior end, develops three pairs of chitinous hooks secreted by differentiated cells, called onchoblasts. This six hooked embryo, called hexacanth, possesses a pair of large penetration glands. It is surrounded by two hexacanth membranes. The hexacanth, together with all the membranes surrounding it, is known as onchosphere. The secondary or intermediate host acquires infection by ingesting the onchospheres. Pig, which regularly feeds on human excreta is the usual secondary host, but dog, monkey and sheep are also known to get the infection. Man himself may serve as the secondary host by ingesting onchospheres with inadequately cooked or raw vegetables.