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The ultrastructure of the heart and kidney of the pilid gastropod mollusc Marisa cornuarietis , with special reference to filtration throughout the Architaenioglossa
Author(s) -
Andrews Elizabeth B.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1976.tb03228.x
Subject(s) - biology , kidney , ultrastructure , anatomy , epithelium , ventricle , filtration (mathematics) , medicine , endocrinology , genetics , statistics , mathematics
Transmission and scanning electron micrographs of the heart and kidney of Marisa cornuarietis (L.) reveal that the auricle is largely responsible for filtration supplemented to a small extent by the ventricle. The epicardial cells of the auricle are specialized to allow the escape of a filtrate of the blood, but do not bear any resemblance to podocytes. The posterior part of the kidney is lined by a characteristic renal epithelium excreting uric acid and resorbing glucose whilst the anterior part has an epithelium specialized for active transport of ions. A possible mechanism for filtration is suggested, and the functional significance of the structural variations in the heart and kidney of pilids, viviparids and cyclophorids is discussed.