viz r 



ECHINODERMATATHK GCELOMIC 



441 



floors of these sacs consist of flat cells, but the epithelium round their openings into 

 the dorsal canal is much thickened, and provided with large cilia. These ciliated 

 sacs undoubtedly serve the same purpose as the ciliated bands in the bracliial 

 cavities of the Ophiuroidea and the urns of the Synaptidcv. 



C. The Pericesophageal Sinus. 



1. Holothurioidea (Fig. 365, p. 428). Between the mouth and 

 the water vascular ring the oesophagus is surrounded by a membrane- 

 like sheath, in such a way that between it and this membrane a 

 narrow cavity is left ; this is the perioesophageal sinus, which is a 

 section of the ccelom. The radial canals of the water vascular system 

 run along its outer side, and in the radial direction it is traversed by 

 numerous bands and filaments which are attached on the one hand to 

 the cesophageal wall, and on the other to the outer membrane of the 



17 



FIG. 369. Median section through the oral region of Spatangus purpureus (after Cue"not). 

 Is, Posterior unpaired interraclius ; RHII anterior unpaired radius. 1, Radial canal of the water 

 vascular system ; 2, radial blood vessel ; 3, radial pseudohaemal canal ; 4, radial nerve trunk ; 5, 

 radial epineural canal ; 6, test ; 7, body epithelium ; 8, mouth ; 9, epineural circular canal ; 10, 

 circular nerve ; 11, endothelium of the body cavity ; 12, pericesophageal sinus ; 13, water vascular 

 ring ; 14, blood vascular ring ; 15, oesophagus ; 16, membrane which separates the perioesophageal 

 sinus from the body cavity; 17, septum, which separates the pseudohaemal canal from the perioeso- 

 phageal sinus. 



sinus. These are only wanting in the part near the mouth, which is 

 thus distinct, and is known as the peribuceal sinus. The perioeso- 

 phageal sinus is usually in open communication with the common body 

 cavity by means of a varying number of apertures in its outer mem- 

 brane. In Cucumaria there are five such apertures, which are large 

 and interradial in position. In the Elasipoda alone is the perioeso- 

 phageal sinus completely separated from the general body cavity by 

 an uninterrupted outer membrane, which runs from the water vascular 

 ring direct to the body wall. 



2. Eehinoidea. In the Spatangoida (Fig. 369) a membrane, 

 which runs out horizontally from the commencement of the intestine 

 to surround the circular canal of the water vascular system, completely 

 separates a very small pericesophageal sinus of the ccelom from the 

 spacious body cavity. In those Echinoids which are provided with a 

 masticatory framework, this latter develops within this sinus, which 



