The works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 2 (of 4) : $b A treatise on comparative embryology: InvertebrataBalfour, Francis M. (Francis Maitland)
Science
The works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 2 (of 4) : $b A treatise on comparative embryology: Invertebrata
Balfour, Francis M. (Francis Maitland)
Embryology; Zoology
The observations of Götte (No. 184) were made on Planaria Neapolitana
and Thysanozoon Diesingi, and those of Metschnikoff (No. 188) on
Stylochopsis ponticus. The larvæ of all these forms undergo more or
less of a metamorphosis, but the accounts of their development are not
easily reconciled.[91] The early stages of Planaria are like those of
Leptoplana, as described by Keferstein. Four large hypoblast
cells become surrounded by small epiblast cells, which commence to be
formed on the dorsal side. The hypoblast cells divide and arrange
themselves in two bilaterally symmetrical rows. A small blastopore is
left by the small cells on the _ventral surface_, which communicates
with an otherwise closed and ciliated cavity which is formed between
the two rows of hypoblast cells. The blastopore would seem to remain
permanently open, and to be placed at the base of a deep pit, lined by
epiblast cells, which constitutes the stomodæum.
[91] The account of Metschnikoff's observations on Stylochopsis
ponticus given in the German abstract is too obscure to be placed
in the text, but the following are the more important points
which can be gleaned from it.
The ovum becomes first divided into eight segments. By further
division along the equatorial zone, a ring of small cells is
formed which becomes the epiblast. The two poles are at this time
formed of large cells. At one pole four small cells appear, which
are compared by Metschnikoff to the pole cells of the Diptera
(vide Chapter on the development of the Insecta). At the opposite
pole a blastopore is formed leading into a small segmentation
cavity. The epiblast also now gradually grows over the large
cells. At the blastopore pole the large cells give rise to the
hypoblast and the small cells at the opposite pole assist in
forming the epiblast. The blastopore disappears, and with it the
segmentation cavity, while the hypoblast, forming a solid mass,
becomes divided into two halves (Cf. Planaria Neapolitana). The
embryo becomes ciliated and begins to rotate; and the eyes, and
somewhat later (?) the nervous ganglion make their appearance.
In the interior a wide cavity develops between the hypoblast
cells, which becomes ciliated and is placed in communication with
the exterior by an invaginated stomadæum which forms the pharynx.
The larva now, as in Planaria Neapolitana, takes on a
Pilidium-like form. Lateral lobes and an anterior lip grow out
from the under surface, and become covered with long cilia, while
at the upper pole a long flagellum makes its appearance.
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