Summary
A muscle receptor organ is present in the mandible of macruran decapods. The mandibular muscle receptor organ (Mand. MRO) of Homarus gammarus (L.) consists of a ribbon of muscle innervated at its ventral insertion by 10–20 multiterminal sensory neurones. The sensory cells have a small number of dendritic processes.
The receptor muscle exhibits some structural properties of both fast and slow muscle. The mean sarcomere length is similar to that of the slow abdominal MRO but the receptor muscle in cross section has a punctate distribution of myofibril bundles more typical of fast muscle.
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This work was supported by Science Research Council grants B/SR/1871 and BR/G/585.
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Wales, W., Laverack, M.S. The mandibular muscle receptor organ of Homarus gammarus (L.) (crustacea, decapoda). Z. Morph. Tiere 73, 145–162 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280773
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280773