456 



COMPARATIVE ANATOMY 



ran through it. At regular segmeutal intervals, about on a level Avith 

 the consecutive pairs of tentacles, these trunks show distinct swellings, 

 from which most of the nerves originate. In this way the radial 

 nerves superficially resemble the ventral ganglionic chain of many 

 Annulata and Arthropoda. 



The central portion of the deeper oral nervous system is so closely 

 applied to the corresponding portion of the superfleial nervous sys- 

 tem that the two can only be distinguished from one another by means 



Fig. 372.— Nervous system of an Ophiurid (Ophiothrix fragUis) (after Cuenot). Part of tlie 

 disc and the base of an arm. 1, Periplieral brachial iicrvi' ; 2, tentacle ner\e ; 3, nerve to the 

 muscles between the vertebral ossicles ; 4, radial nerve trunk ; 5, gan{,dion at the base of a spine ; 

 6, marginal nerve of the disc ; 7, bursal aperture ; 8, iiervus lateralis ; 9, gonad projecting into the 

 bursa ; 10, Polian vesicle ; 11, interradial nerve ; 12, nerve of the musculus interradialis aboralis 

 (Simroth); 13, nerve ring; 14, dental nerve; 15, enteroctelic nerve ring; 16, spine; I, first oral 

 tentacle ; 11, second oral tentacle ; III-VIII, tentacles of arms. 



of careful microscopic examination, e.g. of transverse sections. In the 

 following description, however, we shall keep the two systems entirel}' 

 distinct from one another. 



Nerves of the oesophageal ring. — A large number of nerves arise from tlie 

 cesophageal ring, and ramify in the connective tissue layer of the intestinal wall. 

 Further, at each of the points where a radial nerve trunk joins the cesophageal ring, 

 the latter gives off two nerves, which run to the bases of the first pair of oral tube- 

 feet. Each of them there forms a circular ganglion, almost completely surrounding 



