Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiologyBerger, E. W. (Edward William)
Science
Physiology and histology of the Cubomedusæ: including Dr. F.S. Conant's notes on the physiology
Berger, E. W. (Edward William)
Cubomedusae
Claus mentions having seen patches of flagella on the epithelium of the
clubs. Schewiakoff supposes that his spindle-shaped sensory cells have
only a single flagellum, while his supporting cells have many cilia.
In the latter supposition he was evidently mistaken. Conant (from an
unpublished note) saw the flagella of the epithelium on the living
object and does not think that there could be more than a single one to
each cell. He also concludes from living specimens squeezed out under a
cover-glass, that there is only one kind of cells in the ectoderm.
Cilia and flagella extending into the cells to which they are attached
are described by a number of observers.
I shall not endeavor to discuss the subject further, but shall append the
literature on the subject that has come to my notice. (See Literature).
Some of these observers ascribe a nervous function to these centrad
continuations. I am inclined to believe that they represent the primitive
fibrils of Apathy, whether the cilia or flagella are motile or sensory. I
should mention, however, that Apathy has traced the “Primitivfibrillen”
to be continuous with cilia, and also traces them into the sensory rods
of the sensory cells in the sense organs of leeches. Eimer also describes
cilia as continued centrad.
_The Network Cells and the Multipolar Ganglion Cells._--Conant is the
first to accurately describe the true structure of the network cells
(Fig. 13) that fill the upper part of the club between the proximal
complex eye and the attachment of the peduncle. I cannot add anything
to Conant’s description. As their name implies, they are filled with
a coarse network-like structure with a central nucleus and nucleolus.
Schewiakoff erroneously described them as ganglion cells and Claus as
supporting cells. I have sometimes thought that they are not made up of
a network, but of a vesicular structure; _i. e._ the network we see is
really produced by the sections of planes that intersect to form little
polyhedral cavities. I could not, however, satisfy myself on this point.
I further saw similar but smaller cells, with a finer network, disposed
in small groups laterally and distally from the attachment of the
peduncle to the club.
What the function of these network cells is can only be guessed. In size
and shape they somewhat resemble some of the cells found in luminous
organs. Conant, however, nowhere mentions that Charybdea is luminous.
Lateral to the larger group of network cells lie two groups of large
multipolar ganglion cells (a group on each side). Claus describes these
cells, but Schewiakoff does not specially note them, and evidently
considered them a part of the network cells, which he erroneously
described as ganglion cells.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account