Part 11

ar. Anterior root of a spinal nerve. ch. Notochord. com. Commissure connecting the posterior roots of the spinal nerves. i. Mesoblastic investment of spinal cord. mp. Muscle-plate. n. Spinal nerve. nc. Neural canal. pr. Posterior root of a spinal nerve. spg. Ganglion on posterior root of spinal nerve. v.r. Vertebral rudiment. w. White matter of spinal cord. y. Point where the spinal cord became segmented off from the superjacent epiblast.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Three sections of a Pristiurus embryo belonging to stage I. Fig. 1 passes through the heart, fig. 2 through the anterior part of the dorsal region, fig. 3 through a point slightly behind this. (Zeiss CC, ocul. 2.) In fig. 3 there is visible a slight proliferation of cells from the dorsal summit of the neural canal. In fig. 2 this proliferation definitely constitutes two club-shaped masses of cells (pr)--the rudiments of the posterior nerve-roots,--both attached to the dorsal summit of the spinal cord. In fig. 1 the rudiments of the posterior roots are of considerable length.

Fig. 4. Section through the dorsal region of a Torpedo embryo slightly older than stage I, with three visceral clefts. (Zeiss CC, ocul. 2.) The section shews the formation of a pair of dorsal nerve-rudiments (pr) and a ventral nerve-rudiment (ar). The latter is shewn in its youngest condition, and is not distinctly cellular.

Fig. 5. Section through the dorsal region of a Torpedo embryo slightly younger than stage K. (Zeiss CC, ocul. 2.) The connective-tissue cells are omitted. The rudiment of the ganglion (spg) on the posterior root has appeared, and the junction of posterior root with the cord is difficult to detect. The anterior root forms an elongated cellular structure.

Fig. 6. Section through the dorsal region of a Pristiurus embryo of stage K. (Zeiss CC, ocul. 2.) The section especially illustrates the attachment of the posterior root to the spinal cord.

Fig. 7. Section through the same embryo as fig. 6. (Zeiss CC, ocul. 1.) The section contains an anterior root, which takes its origin at a point opposite the interval between two posterior roots.

Fig. 8. A series of posterior roots with their central ends united by a dorsal commissure, from a longitudinal and vertical section of a Scyllium embryo belonging to a stage intermediate between L and M. The embryo was hardened in a mixture of osmic and chromic acids.

Fig. 9. The central end of a posterior nerve-root from the same embryo, with the commissure springing out from it on either side.

EXPLANATION OF PLATES 15, 16, 17. (X. p. 397.)

PLATE 15. (THE HEAD DURING STAGES G-K.)

COMPLETE LIST OF REFERENCE LETTERS.

1aa, 2aa, etc. 1st, 2d, etc. aortic arch. acv. Anterior cardinal vein. al. Alimentary canal. ao. Aorta. au. Thickening of epiblast to form the auditory pit. aun. Auditory nerve. aup. Auditory pit. auv. Auditory vesicle. b. Wall of brain. bb. Base of brain. cb. Cerebellum. cer. Cerebrum. Ch. Choroid slit. ch. Notochord. com. Commissure connecting roots of vagus nerve. 1, 2, 3 etc. eg. External gills. ep. External epiblast. fb. Fore-brain. gl. Glossopharyngeal nerve. hb. Hind-brain. ht. Heart. hy. Hyaloid membrane. In. Infundibulum. l. Lens. M. Mouth involution. m. Mesoblast at the base of the brain. mb. Mid-brain. mn. v. Mandibular branch of fifth. ol. Olfactory pit. op. Eye. opn. Optic nerve. opv. Optic vesicle. opthV. Ophthalmic branch of fifth. p. Posterior root of spinal nerve. pn. Pineal gland. 1, 2 etc. pp. First, second, etc. section of body-cavity in the head. pt. Pituitary body. so. Somatopleure. sp. Splanchnopleure. spc. Spinal cord. Th. Thyroid body. v. Blood-vessel. iv.v. Fourth ventricle. v. Fifth nerve. Vc. Visceral cleft. Vg. Vagus. vii. Seventh or facial nerve.

Fig. 1. Head of a Pristiurus embryo of stage K viewed as a transparent object.

The points which deserve special attention are: (1) The sections of the body-cavity in the head (pp): the first or premandibular section being situated close to the eye, the second in the mandibular arch. Above this one the fifth nerve bifurcates. The third at the summit of the hyoid arch.

The cranial nerves and the general appearance of the brain are well shewn in the figure.

The notochord cannot be traced in the living embryo so far forward as it is represented. It has been inserted according to the position which it is seen to occupy in sections.

Fig. 2. Head of an embryo of Scyllium canicula somewhat later than stage K, viewed as a transparent object.

The figure shews the condition of the brain; the branches of the fifth and seventh nerves (v. vii.); the rudiments of the semicircular canals; and the commencing appearance of the external gills as buds on both walls of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th clefts. The external gills have not appeared on the first cleft or spiracle.

Fig. 3. Section through the head of a Pristiurus embryo during stage G. It shews (1) the fifth nerve (v.) arising as an outgrowth from the dorsal summit of the brain. (2) The optic vesicles not yet constricted off from the fore-brain.

Figs. 4a and 4b. Two sections through the head of a Pristiurus embryo of stage I. They shew (1) the appearance of the seventh nerve. (2) The portion of the body-cavity belonging to the first and second visceral arches. (3) The commencing thickening of epiblast to form the auditory involution.

In 4b, the posterior of the two sections, no trace of an auditory nerve is to be seen.

Figs. 5a and 5b. Two sections through the head of a Torpedo embryo with 3 visceral clefts. Zeiss A, ocul. 1.

5a shews the formation of the thin roof of the fourth ventricle by a divarication of the two lateral halves of the brain.

Both sections shew the commencing formation of the thyroid body (th) at the base of the mandibular arch.

They also illustrate the formation of the visceral clefts by an outgrowth from the alimentary tract without any corresponding ingrowth of the external epiblast.

Fig. 6. Section through the hind-brain of a somewhat older Torpedo embryo. Zeiss A, ocul. 1.

The section shews (1) the attachment of a branch of the vagus to the walls of the hind-brain. (2) The peculiar form of the hind-brain.

Fig. 7. Transverse section through the head of a Pristiurus embryo belonging to a stage intermediate between I and K, passing through both the fore-brain and the hind-brain. Zeiss A, ocul. 1.