The Animal Parasites of ManFantham, Harold Benjamin
Science
The Animal Parasites of Man
Fantham, Harold Benjamin
Medical parasitology
[Illustration: FIG. 121.--_Harmostomum leptostomum_, Olss., an immature
specimen from _Helix hortensis_. _Nervous system_, according to
Bettendorf. _A.s._, ventral sucker; _C.g._, cerebral ganglion; _Ex.p._,
excretory pore; _G.p._, genital pore; _O.s._, oral sucker; _M.d._,
dorsal medullary nerve; _M.l._, lateral medullary nerve; _N.ph._,
pharyngeal nerve; _M.v._, ventral medullary nerve. Magnified.]
Of the muscles of the organs which have developed from the parenchyma
muscles we may briefly mention those bundles that are attached to
certain parts of the genital apparatus, to the suckers, to the hooks
and claws, and also, at all events in _Fasciola hepatica_, to the
spines. The sheaths used for the projection of the tentacles of the
_Rhopaliadæ_ are also muscular.
The contractile elements consist of fibres of various lengths that are
mostly parallel to one another, and frequently anastomose; a cortical
substance finely fibrillated can usually be distinguished from an
internal homogeneous mass; large nucleated cells of uniform size are
always connected with them; these have been variously interpreted,
but have been proved to be myoblasts, one or more of their processes
constituting the muscular fibres.
The MOVEMENTS of the Trematodes consist in alterations of form and
position of the body, as well as in creeping movements.
In the NERVOUS SYSTEM (fig. 121) can be distinguished a cerebral
portion as well as strands (medullary strands) running from it, and
peripheral nerves. The cerebral portion always consists of two large
ganglia situated in the anterior end of the body which pass dorsally
over the œsophagus and are connected by means of a broad and thick
commissure composed of fibres only. From each ganglion three nerves
run anteriorly--the inner and dorsal nerve for supplying the anterior
dorsal part of the body; the median and ventral for the oral sucker;
and the exterior and lateral likewise for the supply of the sucker.
In a similar manner three strands run backwards from each ganglion--one
dorsal, one lateral and one ventral. The dorsal and ventral strands
become united and curve backwards; the symmetrical lateral strands
are connected by means of transverse commissures, the number of which
vary according to the species. Such commissures also exist between the
lateral and the two other strands on each side. There are ganglion
cells along the entire course of the posterior cords, more particularly
at the points of origin of the commissures. There also appears to be in
addition a fourth anterior and posterior pair of nerves, the front pair
for the oral sucker and the hind pair for the pharynx.
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