EvolutionWatson, James A. S. (James Anderson Scott)
History
Evolution
Watson, James A. S. (James Anderson Scott)
Evolution
Something remains to be said regarding the specialisation of tissues
in this group. We have already mentioned the stinging cells, and
the beginnings of muscular tissue, in Hydra. The former are a
constant feature of the Cœlenterates, while the latter reaches a very
considerable development in the higher forms, as may be judged from
the surprising rapidity with which the Medusa can swim, or from the
strength with which the sea-anemone can retract its tentacles and draw
itself together. Important, further, is the nerve tissue. This consists
of cells whose business it is to receive and transmit stimuli. They
have long fibrous projections connecting them with each other, so that
there is a network of communication throughout the whole animal. In the
Medusa, where co-ordinated movements of various portions is necessary,
there is a concentration of nerve cells into a double ring near the
edge. Here also there are special organs, probably of sight and of the
sense of balance; but as these cannot be regarded as the forerunners of
the analogous organs in higher animals, we need not pause to describe
them. The anatomy of the Cœlenterates will be better understood if the
reader will study the diagrams in Figs. 35 and 36, while some idea of
the beauty and variety met with in the group may be obtained from Fig.
37.
[Illustration: FIG. 38.--Diagram of Ctenophore.
_f_, Tentacle; _fs_, tentacle sac; _t_, central cavity; _tg_,
upper canal; _rud_, plate bearing cilia; _g_, radial canal; _r_,
longitudinal canal; _si_, sense organ.]
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