Abstract
The stalk of isocrinid sea-lilies consists largely of skeletal plates linked by collagenous ligaments. Although lacking contractile tissue, it can bend in response to external stimuli. The stalk of Cenocrinus asterius was tested mechanically to determine whether the mechanical properties of its ligaments are under physiological control. In bending tests, ligaments at the mobile symplexal junctions showed a limited “slackening” response to high K + concentrations which was blocked reversibly by the anaesthetic propylene phenoxetol. In bending tests and uniaxial loading tests, ligaments at the normally rigid synostosal junctions ruptured in response to high K +, confirming that these junctions are specialized for autotomy. It is concluded that the ligaments are mutable collagenous structures whose presence explains the mechanical versatility of the isocrinid stalk.
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