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Microscopic anatomy of the cardiac ganglion of Limulus polyphemus
Author(s) -
Bursey Charles R.,
Pax Ralph A.
Publication year - 1970
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.1051300309
Subject(s) - ganglion , anatomy , biology , limulus , connective tissue , giant retinal ganglion cells , retinal ganglion cell , optic nerve , evolutionary biology , genetics
Abstract The morphology of the cardiac ganglion of Limulus polyphemus (L) was examined by reconstructions from stained serial sections. This ganglion is composed of two distinct parts: a fiber tract extending the entire length of the heart and a cellular portion underlying the fiber tract. The cellular portion extends continuously from the third pair of ostia to the posterior terminus of the heart. The mean number of ganglion cell bodies is 231. Most of the ganglion cells are located among the glial elements of the cellular portion. The greatest density of cells is found in segments 5 and 6. Six cell types are recognized: (1) large pigmented unipolar cells approximately 120 μ in diameter with distinct connective tissue capsules around them; (2) large pigmented bipolar cells approximately 120 μ in length which are also encapsulated; (3) pigmented multipolar cells approximately 80 μ in diameter which are free of capsules; (4) small pigmented bipolar cells approximately 40 μ in length which are encapsulated but which are found exclusively within the fiber tract; (5) non‐pigmented multipolar cells approximately 30 μ in diameter which are found scattered among the connective tissue elements of the cellular portion; and (6) small non‐pigmented cells approximately 10 μ in diameter which are found within the unipolar cell capsule and scattered among the connective tissue elements of the ganglion. The variability in cell numbers and the random location of cells points toward non‐specific anatomical connectivity between elements of this ganglion.