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The structures of the tentacles of Rhabdopleura compacta (Hemichordata) with special reference to neurociliary control

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Summary

The tentacle of Rhabdopleura compacta (Hemichordata) consists of two layers of cells surrounding a central coelomic cavity. The two layers of cells are separated by a cell free basement lamella.

The tentacles on the arms of Rhabdopleura bear three longitudinal rows of cilia. The ciliated cells are closely associated with bundles of nerve fibres, and between some of the cells and nerve fibres there are synapses. The peripheral regions of the ciliated cells are joined to one another by desmosomes. Tonofibrils join some of these desmosomes to the kinetosomes of the cilia.

The nerve fibres are confined to the ectodermal layer and the muscle cells to the layer of cells within the basement lamella. In the ectodermal layer besides ciliated cells there are mucus cells, densely pigmented cells, and green bodies. The function of these last two types of cells is secretory. Most of the epithelial cells have microvilli upon their free borders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, University College London, UK

    P. N. Dilly

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  1. P. N. Dilly
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I wish to thank Professor J. Z. Young F. R. S. for enthusiastic advice and encouragement. Dr. R. Bellairs generously provided the facilities for electron microscopy. Mr. R. Moss gave excellent technical and photographic assistance. Dr. A. Stebbing of the Plymouth Marine Biological Laboratory helped me to obtain and to identify the specimens. Professor D. W. James kindly allowed me to use his facilities for interference microscopy.

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Dilly, P.N. The structures of the tentacles of Rhabdopleura compacta (Hemichordata) with special reference to neurociliary control. Z. Zellforsch 129, 20–39 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307107

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307107

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