The works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 (of 4) : $b Separate memoirsBalfour, Francis M. (Francis Maitland)
Science
The works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1 (of 4) : $b Separate memoirs
Balfour, Francis M. (Francis Maitland)
Embryology; Zoology
In Polypterus (vide Hyrtl, _Ganoiden_) there is, as in other Ganoids, a
pair of Müllerian ducts. They unite at their lower ends. The ureters are
also much narrower than in previously described Ganoids and, after
coalescing, open into the united oviducts. The urinogenital canal, formed
by coalescence of the Müllerian ducts and ureters, has an opening to the
exterior immediately behind the anus.
In Amia (vide Hyrtl) there is a pair of Müllerian ducts which, as well as
the ureters, open into a dilated vesicle. This vesicle appears as a
continuation of the Müllerian ducts, but receives a number of the efferent
ductules of the kidneys. There is a single genito-urinary pore behind the
anus.
In Ceratodus (Günther, _Phil. Trans._ 1871) the kidneys are small and
confined to the posterior extremity of the abdomen. The generative organs
extend however along the greater part of the length of the abdominal
cavity. In both male and female there is a long Müllerian duct, and the
ducts of the two sides unite and open by a common pore into a urinogenital
cloaca which communicates with the exterior by the same opening as the
alimentary canal. In both sexes the Müllerian duct has a wide opening near
the anterior extremity of the body-cavity. The ureters coalesce and open
together into the urinogenital cloaca dorsal to the Müllerian ducts. It is
not absolutely certain that the semen is transported to the exterior by the
Müllerian duct of the male, which is perhaps merely a rudiment as in
Amphibia. Dr Günther failed however to find any other means by which it
could be carried away.
The genital ducts of Lepidosteus differ in important particulars from those
of the other Ganoids (vide Müller, _loc. cit._ and Hyrtl, _loc. cit._).
In both sexes the genital ducts are continuous with the investments of the
genital organs.
In the female the dilated posterior extremities of the ureters completely
invest for some distance the generative ducts, whose extremities are
divided into several processes, and end in a different way on the two
sides. A similar division and asymmetry of the ducts is mentioned by Hyrtl
as occurring in the male of Spatularia, and it seems not impossible that on
the hypothesis of the genital ducts being segmental tubes these divisions
may be remnants of primitive glandular convolutions. The ureters in both
sexes dilate as in other Ganoids at their posterior extremities, and unite
with one another. The unpaired urinogenital opening is situated behind the
anus. In the male the dilated portion of the ureters is divided into a
series of partitions which are not present in the female.
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