A Guide for the Dissection of the Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias)Griffin, Lawrence Edmonds
Science
A Guide for the Dissection of the Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias)
Griffin, Lawrence Edmonds
Dogfish; Fishes -- Anatomy
In the young specimens usually supplied to laboratories the vas deferens
is straight and no seminal vesicle is developed. The vasa efferentia are
more difficult to see; otherwise the relations of the urinary and
genital organs are as in the adult.
The suspensory ligament of the liver is continued posteriorly along the
midline of the ventral body wall; the dorsal edge supports a funnel
which opens into the abdominal cavity by a long, narrow mouth. From the
anterior end of the funnel two narrow tubes pass to the right and left
over the anterior surface of the liver. They end blindly in the tissues
dorsal to the anterior end of the liver. These are vestiges of the
Muellerian ducts (pronephric ducts) which form the oviducts of the
females.
THE FEMALE. The ovaries are large, white bodies lying at the sides of
the stomach, dorsal to the lobes of the liver. Each is covered by the
peritoneum and suspended by a fold of the same, the _mesovarium_. Ova of
various sizes may be felt in the tissue of the ovary, which should be
exposed by dissection.
The ovaries of Eugaleus are long slender bodies lying on either side of
the mesogaster, dorsal to the stomach and intestine. Their posterior
portions are fused.
The _oviducts_ (_Muellerian ducts_) are large tubes suspended from
between the kidneys by a narrow peritoneal band. The posterior portion
of the oviduct, where development of the eggs takes place, is
considerably enlarged. Each oviduct opens separately into the cloaca by
a pore at the side of the urinary papilla. Followed forward, the
oviducts pass over the anterior surface of the liver and following a
continuation of the suspensory ligament, bend around posteriorly and
unite. At the point of union they open into the coelom by a common,
large, funnel-shaped aperture, the _ostium tubae_.
Cut through the peritoneum along the outer side of one kidney. Then
strip the peritoneum toward the inner side of the kidney. Numerous small
excretory ducts will be seen joining the main _urinary duct_ (_Wolffian
duct, mesonephric duct_), which runs along the inner margin of the
kidney. Make an incision in the side of the urinary papilla to open the
cavity within it, the _urinary sinus_. The connection of this with the
pore at the tip of the papilla should be demonstrated. Extend the
incision forward. The urinary sinus divides into right and left cornua
which are of considerable size and lie dorsal to the oviducts. Trace the
Wolffian duct to the urinary sinus and demonstrate its opening into the
cornu anterior to the point where the two cornua unite.
In young specimens the ovaries are small, and the oviducts are narrow,
white tubes lying along the medial margins of the kidneys.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account