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Innervation pattern and sensory supply of the midleg ofSchistocerca gregaria (Insecta, Orthopteroidea)

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Summary

InSchistocerca gregaria the course and branching pattern of the main leg nerve (N5) and the distribution and innervation of the various types of receptors of the trochanter and more distal leg segments were traced by backfilling with CoCl2. This paper aims to give a detailed description of the peripheral nervous system of the midleg of locusts. Certain fields of leg receptors are innervated by individual nerve branches. This facilitates the description of the innervation pattern of the leg and avoids confusion due to variable branching patterns of nerves in different individuals. A suggestion for the naming of leg nerves is presented. In addition, this work gives an overview of the sensory supply of the midleg, and of the number, location and distribution of the various receptor types which are found in the different leg segments. On each midleg including the coxa ofS. gregaria, approximately 1500–2000 hair sensilla, four hair plates, four rows of hairs and about 320 pulvillar basiconic and pulvillar canal sensilla are located. A total number of about 130 campaniform sensilla are arranged in 14 sensilla fields. Another 16–19 sensilla of this type are found at the base of the tibial spines and 11 single campaniform sensilla are distributed on the tibia and tarsus. At least 12 multipolar receptor groups and single receptor cells are situated in the joints between the femur, the tibia and the tarsal segments. The number, location and arrangement of the receptors of the five chordotonal organs of the legs and their nervous supply have been revealed in wholemount preparations.

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  1. Alfred Mücke

    Present address: Medizinische Fakultät, Institut für Physiologie, Abt. Neurophysiologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Gebäude MA 4/149, W-4630, Bochum 1, Federal Republic of Germany

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  1. AG Neurobiologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Postfach 1929, W-3550, Marburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Alfred Mücke

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Mücke, A. Innervation pattern and sensory supply of the midleg ofSchistocerca gregaria (Insecta, Orthopteroidea). Zoomorphology 110, 175–187 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01633002

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