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The distribution of the branchial nerve in Mytilus edulis and its relation to the problem of nervous control of ciliary activity
Author(s) -
Lucas Alfred M.
Publication year - 1931
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1050510105
Subject(s) - anatomy , biology , gill , connective tissue , epithelium , mytilus , nervous system , neuroscience , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , genetics , fishery
Abstract The branchial nerve of Mytilus edulis, traced by means of serial sections, has been found to be limited entirely to the epithelial and connective tissues bordering the axis of the gills. Most of the numerous branches which originate from the branchial nerve extend posteriorly and lie close to the interfibrillar matrix of the connective tissue which supports the epithelium of this region. Fibers of these nerves have been traced to this epithelium. The chitinous supporting structures of the gills lie in close proximity to these nerves, yet neither nerves nor nerve fibers have been observed to penetrate them. Moreover, a careful study of the gill tissues fails to reveal the presence of structures which might be interpreted as nerves or nerve fibers. Since no innervation of the gills has been demonstrated, it seems probable that the ciliary activity of the gill epithelium is not regulated by means of fibers connected with the central nervous system.