The Stomatogastric Nervous System of Arenicola

Abstract

The stomatogastric system of Arenicola marina L. is in the form of a plexus of nerve-bundles connecting the supra-oesophageal ganglia and the circum-oesophageal commissures with a ring ganglion situated in the gut wall at the anterior limit of the oesophagus; the plexus continues down the length of the oesophagus. Numerous sense cells occur in the epithelium of the proboscis and oesophagus. The anatomy of the stomatogastric system is essentially the same in A. ecaudata Johnston and in A. claparedii Levinsen.