4o6 



THE EVOLUTION OF MAN. 



toma. Although both orders of this class — the Myxinoides 

 as well as the Petromyzontes — possess developed, urine- 

 secreting kidneys, these organs do not in this case serve to 

 carry away the sexual cells. These cells pass directly from 

 the germ-glands into the coelora, and are discharged through 

 a posterior aperture in the abdomen. The condition of the 

 primitive kidneys in these is, however, very interesting, and 



throws light on the complex kidney 

 structure of the higher Vertebrates. 

 In the first place, in the Myxi- 

 noides {Bdellostoma) we find a long 

 tube, the primitive kidney duct 

 (jorotureter, Fig. 317, a), on each 

 side. This opens internally into 

 the coelom through a ciliated funnel- 

 shaped aperture (as in Ringed 

 Worms) ; it opens externally through 

 an opening in the outer skin. A 

 great number of small horizontal 

 tubes (" segmental canals," or primi- 



FiG. 317. — A. Portion of kidney of Bdel- 

 lostoma : a, pi'imitive kioney duct (^protu- 

 reter); h, segmental canals, or primitive 

 urine canals (fuhuli uriniferi) ; c, kidney- 

 vesicles (capsuloB Malphigiance'), — B. Por- 

 tion of the same, much enlarged : c, kidney- 

 vesicle, with the (jlomerulus ; d, approaching 

 artery; e, retreating artery. (After Johannes 

 MuUer.) 



tive urine tubes) open on its inner sid-e. Each of these 

 terminates in a blind, vesicular capsule (c) enclosing a 



