In its arrangement the muscular tissue forms two systems: the one
composed of striated fibres arranged circularly, that is to say,
concentrically round the central axis of the umbrella; the other of
non-striated fibres running longitudinally, that is to say, in a
radial direction from, or (in the manubrium) parallel to, the same
ideal axis. The circular system is developed continuously over the
entire sub-umbral surface, and the velum represents a special local
development of this system, at a region where it is able to act at the
greatest mechanical advantage in producing the contractions of the
umbrella by which the animal progresses. The longitudinal system is
discontinuous, and is subdivided into proximal, medial and distal
portions. The proximal portion forms the retractor muscles of the
manubrium, or proboscis, well developed, for example, in _Geryonia_.
The medial portion forms radiating tracts of fibres, the so-called
"bell-muscles" running underneath, and parallel to, the radial canals;
when greatly developed, as in _Tiaridae_, they form ridges, so-called
mesenteries, projecting into the sub-umbral cavity. The distal
portions form the muscles of the tentacles. In contrast with the
polyp, the longitudinal muscle-system is entirely ectodermal, there
being no endodermal muscles in craspedote medusae.
[Illustration: FIG. 28.--Muscular Cells of Medusae (_Lizzia_). The
uppermost is a purely muscular cell from the sub-umbrella; the two
lower are epidermo-muscular cells from the base of a tentacle; the
upstanding nucleated portion forms part of the epidermal mosaic on the
free surface of the body. (After Hertwig.)]
The nervous system of the medusa consists of sub-epithelial
ganglion-cells, which form, in the first place, a diffuse plexus of
nervous tissue, as in the polyp, but developed chiefly on the
sub-umbral surface; and which are concentrated, in the second place,
to form a definite central nervous system, never found in the polyp.
In Hydromedusae the central nervous system forms two concentric
nerve-rings at the margin of the umbrella, near the base of the velum.
One, the "upper" or ex-umbral nerve-ring, is derived from the ectoderm
on the ex-umbral side of the velum; it is the larger of the two rings,
containing more numerous but smaller ganglion-cells, and innervates
the tentacles. The other, the "lower" or sub-umbral nerve-ring, is
derived from the ectoderm on the sub-umbral side of the velum; it
contains fewer but larger ganglion-cells and innervates the muscles of
the velum (see diagram in article MEDUSAE). The two nerve-rings are
connected by fibres passing from one to the other.
[Illustration: After O. Maas, _Craspedoten Medusen der Siboga
Expedition_, by permission of E. S. Brill & Co.
FIG. 29.--_Tiaropsis rosea_ (Ag. and Mayer) showing the eight adradial
Statocysts, each close to an Ocellus. Cf. fig. 30.]
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