The Morphology of the Organum Olfactus of a 32 mm Embryo of the Brachiopterygian Fish Polypterus senegalus

Abstract

AbstractAnatomically the brachiopterygian organum olfactus is unique among craniates. As revealed by the present study of Polypterus senegalus, it consists of an incurrent and an excurrent tube, a body and six lobes. Luminally these divisions are extensively covered with cilia, the actions of which cause water to flow through the organ. The proximal extremities of the two tubes communicate directly with one another, allowing water to bypass the body and the lobes. The body is subdivided by means of seven infolds into a central part and two peripheral parts. Of these, the central part directs water to the lobes; the peripheral parts drain the lobes and lead water to the excurrent tube. Each lobe has an axial portion and two rows of alternating lobuli. Interlobularly infolds of the axial portion subdivide the lobar lumen in such a way that movement of water is possible. Olfactory neurosensory cells occur in the rear of the incurrent tube, as well as in the lobes. Probably the degree of stimulation of the tubal receptors determines whether the water taken in is to bypass the lobes.