Elementary Zoology, Second EditionKellogg, Vernon L. (Vernon Lyman)
Science
Elementary Zoology, Second Edition
Kellogg, Vernon L. (Vernon Lyman)
Animals; Zoology
Note the large _alimentary canal_, which is divided into several
regions. Note the short _œsophagus_ leading from the _mouth_ on the
oral surface directly into a large membranous pouch, the _cardiac_
portion of the _stomach_. By a short constriction the cardiac portion
is separated from the part which lies just above, i.e., the _pyloric_
portion of the stomach. From the pyloric portion large, pointed,
paired glandular appendages extend into each ray. These are the
_pyloric cæca_. Their function is digestive, and oftentimes they are
spoken of as the _digestive glands_ or "livers." The pyloric cæca, as
well as the cardiac portion of the stomach, are held in place by
paired muscles which extend into each arm. Note two sets of these
muscles, one set for thrusting the cardiac portion of the stomach out
through the mouth and another for pulling it back, the _protractor
muscles_ and _retractor muscles_, respectively. The starfish obtains
its food by enclosing it in its everted stomach and then withdrawing
stomach and food into the body. Note that the pyloric portion of the
stomach opens above into a short _intestine_ terminating in the
_anus_, and observe that there is attached to the intestine a
convoluted many-branched tube, the _intestinal cæcum_.
Carefully remove a pair of pyloric cæca from one of the rays and note
the short duct which connects them with the pyloric chamber of the
stomach. Note in the angle of each two adjoining rays paired glandular
masses which empty by a common duct on the aboral surface. These
glands are the _reproductive organs_. Note the small bulb-like
bladders extending in two double rows on the floor of each ray. These
are the water-sacs or _ampullæ_, and each one is connected directly
with one of the locomotor organs, the tube-feet.
Make a drawing of the organs in the dissection which have so far been
studied.
TECHNICAL NOTE.--For a careful study of the locomotor organs a fresh
starfish should be injected. This can usually be accomplished by
cutting one ray off squarely, and inserting the needle of a
hypodermic syringe (which has been previously filled with a watery
solution of carmine or Berlin blue), into the end of the radial
water-tube which runs along the floor of the ray. By injecting here,
the whole system of vessels, tube-feet, and ampullæ are filled.
Note a ring-shaped canal which passes around the alimentary canal near
the mouth from which radial vessels run out beneath the floor of each
ray and from which a hard tube extends to the madreporite. This hard
tube is the _stone canal_, so called because its walls contain a series
of calcareous rings, while the circular tube is the _ring canal_ or
_circum-oral water-ring_ from which radiate the _radial canals_. In some
species of starfish there are bladder-like reservoirs, _Polian
vesicles_, which extend interradially from the ring canal.
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