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
With a few exceptions (the Rabbit, Lymnæus, etc.) the majority of the
smaller segments always become epiblast and of the larger segments
hypoblast.
The Frog's ovum serves as a good medium type for unequally segmenting
ova. There are many cases however in which a regular segmentation is
far more closely approached, and others in which it is less so.
One familiar instance in which a regular segmentation is nearly
approached is afforded by the Rabbit's ovum, which has indeed usually
been regarded as offering an example of a regular segmentation.
The ovum of the Rabbit[39] becomes first divided into two sub-equal
spheres. The larger and more transparent of the two may, from its
eventual fate, be called the epiblastic sphere, and the other the
hypoblastic. The two spheres are divided into four, and then by an
equatorial furrow into eight--four epiblastic and four hypoblastic.
One of the latter assumes a central position. The four epiblastic
spheres now divide before the four hypoblastic. There is thus
introduced a stage with twelve spheres. It is followed by one with
sixteen, and that by one with twenty-four. During the stages with
sixteen spheres and onwards the epiblastic spheres gradually envelop
the hypoblastic, which remain exposed on the surface at one point
only. There is no segmentation cavity.
[39] Van Beneden, "Développement embryonnaire des Mammifères."
_Bull. de l'Acad. Belgique_, 1874.
In Pedicellina, one of the entoproctous Polyzoa, there is a
sub-regular segmentation, where however the two primary spheres can be
distinguished much in the same way as in the case of the Rabbit.
A very characteristic type of unequal segmentation is that presented
by the majority of Gasteropods and Pteropods and probably also of some
Lamellibranchiata. It is also found in some Turbellarians, in
Bonellia, some Annelids, etc. In many instances it offers a good
example of the type where in the course of segmentation the protoplasm
becomes aggregated at one pole of the ovum, or of its segments, to
become separated off as a clear sphere.
The first four segments formed by two vertical furrows at
right angles are equal, but from these there are budded off four
smaller segments, which in subsequent stages divide rapidly, receiving
however, a continual accession of segments budded off from the larger
spheres. The four larger spheres remain conspicuous till near the
close of the segmentation. The process of budding, by which the
smaller spheres become separated from the larger, consists in a larger
sphere throwing out a prominence, which then becomes constricted off
from it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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