The Comparative Anatomy of leg Proprioceptors in some Decapod Crustacea

Abstract

According to the generally adopted view, all the proprioceptors of the leg articulations of decapod Crustacea respond to stretching or relaxation of the organs caused by joint movements or joint position. This view is based on anatomical and physiological studies made, originally, mostly on crabs. It has been found, however, that in other groups of Crustacea, such as Anomura and Macrura Reptantia, some of these receptor organs are anatomically related to structures on the exoskeleton. This type of receptor organ, examined inPalinurus vulgarisLatreille,Homarus gammarus(L.) andPagurus bernhardus(L.), is the main subject of the present paper. In the course of this work some observations have been made on other proprioceptors, particularly those in the ischiopodite-meropodite articulation, and these too are reported below. The organs in the coxal region, the special structure of which was the subject of previous investigations (Alexandrowicz & Whitear, 1957; Alexandrowicz, 1958, 1967), are not included.