Summary
A non-ciliary muscle receptor organ in the first mandibular retractor muscle of Oncopeltus fasciatus is described. The organ consists of two specialized muscle fibres of the first retractor, which are embedded in a thickened layer of connective tissue. The sensory innervation is supplied by three multiterminal sense cells sending several dendrites to the receptor muscle fibres. ‘Naked’ dendritic terminals are attached to the muscle surface or connective tissue fibrils. The far-reaching analogy of the receptor to the intrafusal chain-fibres of vertebrate muscle spindles is remarkable. The existence of a muscle receptor organ in the first mandibular retractor may serve as an argument in favor of the homology of this muscle with the musculus tentorio-mandibularis of orthopteroid insects.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexandrowicz JS (1951) Muscle receptor organs in the abdomen of Homarus vulgaris and Palinurus vulgaris. Q J Microsc Sci 92:163–199
Ashhurst DE (1982) The structure and development of insect connective tissues. In: King RC, Akai G (eds) Insect ultrastructure (Vol 1) New York and London, pp 313–350
Backus EA, McLean DL (1982) The sensory system and feeding behavior of leafhoppers. I. The aster leafhopper, Macrosteles fascifrons (Stål) (Homoptera, Cicadellidae) J Morphol 172:361–379
Barker D (1974) Handbook of sensory physiology III/2. Muscle receptors. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, p 310
Cooper S (1960) Muscle spindles and other muscle receptors. In: Bourne GH (ed) The structure and function of muscle (Vol I) Academic Press, New York, pp 381–420
Finlayson LH (1976) Abdominal and thoracic receptors in insects, centipedes and scorpions. In: Mill PJ (ed) Structure and function of proprioceptors in the invertebrates. London, pp 153–212
Finlayson LH, Lowenstein FRS (1958) The structure and function of abdominal stretch receptors in insects. Proc R Soc London (B) 148:433–449
Finlayson LH, Mowat DJ (1963) Variations in histology of abdominal stretch receptors of saturniid moth during development. Q J Microsc Sci 104:243–251
Forbes AR (1976) The stylets of the large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) and their innervation. J Entomol Soc BC 73:29–32
Hennig W (1981) Insect phylogeny. Wiley, Chichester
Honomichl K (1975) Beitrag zur Morphologie des Kopfes der Imago von Gyrinus substriatus Stephens, 1829 (Coleoptera, Insecta). Zool Jahrb Anat 94:218–295
Honomichl K (1976) Feinstruktur eines Muskelrezeptors im Kopf von Dermestes maculatus De Geer (Insecta, Coleoptera). Zoomorphologie 85:59–71
Honomichl K (1978a) Feinstruktur zweier Propriorezeptoren im Kopf von Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Insecta, Coleoptera). Zoomorphologie 90:213–226
Honomichl K (1978b) Feinstruktur eines dritten, nicht-ciliären Propriorezeptors an der Mandibel von Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Insecta, Coleptera). Protoplasma 96:149–156
Honomichl K (1982) Fine structure of a mandibular stretch receptor in Thrips physapus L. (Thysanoptera, Insecta). Zoomorphology 101:177–186
Honomichl K (1984) Feinstruktur einer Nerv-Muskel-Synapse bei Carausius (Insecta, Phasmatodea). Zool Jahrb Anat 112:85–93
Lee AJ (1983) The tentorio-mandibular muscles of pterygote insects, and their possible role as proprioceptive organs (Unpublished manuscript)
Liem H, Schmidt W, Honomichl K (1984) Zwei Muskelrezeptoren an der Mandibel von Leuctra (Insecta, Plecoptera) — Beispiele für nicht-ciliäre Sinnesorgane mit Tubularkörper-ähnlichen Strukturen. Zoomorphology 104:239–245
Matsuda R (1965) Morphology and evolution of the insect head. Mem Am Ent Inst 4
Matthews PBC (1981) Evolving views on the internal operation and functional role of the muscle spindle. J Physiol 320:1–30
Mickoleit E (1963) Untersuchungen zur Kopfmorphologie der Thysanopteren. Zool Jahrb Anat 81:101–150
Moritz G (1982) Zur Morphologie und Anatomie des Fransenflüglers Aeolothrips intermedius Bagnall, 1934 (Aeolothripidae, Thysanoptera, Insecta). 1. Mitteilung: Der Kopf. Zool Jahrb Anat 107:557–608
Moulins M (1968) Contribution à la connaissance anatomique des Plécoptères: la région céphalique de la larve de Nemoura cinerea (Nemouridae). Ann Soc Ent Fr (NS) 4:51–143
Osborne MP, Finlayson LH (1962) The structure and topograpy of stretch receptors in representatives of seven orders of insects. J Microsc Sci 103:227–242
Osborne MP, Finlayson LH (1965) An electron microscope study of the stretch receptor of Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae). J Insect Physiol 11:703–710
Parsons MC (1959) Skeleton and musculature of the head of Gelastocoris oculatus (Fabr.) (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Bull Mus Comp Zool Harv 122:3–53
Pesson P (1944) Contribution à l'étude morphologique et fonctionelle de la tête, de l'appareil buccal et du tube digéstif de la femelle de Coccides. Monogr Sta Lab Rech Agron, Paris
Rieger C (1976) Skelett und Muskulatur des Kopfes und Prothorax von Ochterus marginatus Latreille. Beitrag zur Klärung der phylogenetischen Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen der Ochteridae (Insecta, Heteroptera). Zoomorphologie 83:109–191
Risler H (1957) Der Kopf von Thrips physapus L. (Thysanoptera, Terebrantia). Zool Jahrb Anat 76:251–302
Slifer EH, Finlayson LH (1956) Muscle receptor organs in grasshoppers and locusts (Orthoptera, Acrididae). Q J Microsc Sci 97:617–620
Snodgrass RE (1935) Principles of insect morphology. New York, London
Snodgrass RE (1938) The loral plates and the hypopharnyx of Hemiptera. Proc Ent Soc Washington 40:228–236
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bolender, H., Honomichl, K. Ultrastructure of a muscle spindle-analogous receptor organ in the mandible of Oncopeltus fasciatus (Insecta, Heteroptera) with remarks on the homology of the mandibular muscles. Zoomorphology 105, 388–394 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312283
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312283