AUTHOR’S ABSTRACT OF THIS PAPER ISSUED 
BY THE BIBLIOGRAPHIC SERVICE, APRIL 17 
THE INFLUENCE OF THE LATERAL-LINE SYSTEM 
ON THE PERIPHERAL OSSEOUS ELEMENTS 
OF FISHES AND AMPHIBIA! 
ROY L. MOODIE 
Department of Anatomy, University of Illinois, Chicago 
FIVE FIGURES 
CONTENTS 
POAC LON cco Sa eee Ee eee ee eee ee oes ohne Uae eee eee 319 
Era DUNG. 8 Ape ces Scie «cold win, Grae wtene erencke APE raves Cains sims ey ee eke 320 
WM ORW KETONE 2S aco bie cite a uci RNR GIS LO hs MO oR ae rd AI ai Le Sater ares 322 
ANE. G(R CCITT ER a ee ee Ne ee oe en renee 323 
Nature-or jue mead skeleton of Amiurus: (7 ..ceiac. ec... laos esiececeesees 323 
Condition of the head skeleton of Amiurus at 24 mm...................... 326 
Condition of the skull bones in Amiurus at 50 mm......................0. 327 
Eastolosy of the carials,andvassociated. bones: ,; « «)...2 2. sh ss,cs)Qeay a4 ale dle sos 329 
Suggested explanations of the influence of the lateral-line canals on osteo- 
BENCHIG Pe Ack, AAO es Seat ashe tk ees Sema ae Pee wes L Vee Ser icaear peictcy. cies 330 
Application of embryological data to paleontology................000ce00e 332 
UTLDTICE Tae Bi Sl Sc 20s Ae RE OR DPE SLEEP OR SER eT an A Pee 333 
1B 68 FSVETADPOL EN FS Js AN RPI Soe ey re Re) ee eer a 3 Re RPP e | 335 
INTRODUCTION 
The present study is the result of an attempt to determine 
whether the lateral-line system, in its development, initiates the 
formation of bone. The trophicity of the nervous system in 
bone growth and bone pathology is well known, having been dis- 
cussed by Abraham (’99), Cassirer (10), Luciani (15), Moral 
(19), and Nasse (’80), and it seemed to me possible that the 
sense organs of the lateral-line system might prove to be trophic 
for the skeleton of the head especially. This idea was supported 
by the acknowledged fact that the lateral-line grooves on the 
peripheral osseous elements of fishes, both ancient and modern, 
and in ancient amphibians furnish an important criterion in 
homologizing the cranial elements. 
1 Aided by grants from the Elizabeth Thompson Science Fund. 
319 
