Exercise No.

1
ANATOMY OF AMPHIOXUS

Although the comparative anatomy laboratory is concerned almost exclusively with the
study of vertebrate forms, it is worthwhile first to mention the various existing animal types that
lack a backbone but are closely related to the vertebrates. Collectively these are known as
protochordates. Almost all these animals, along with the vertebrates belong to the same
phylum, Chordata. All chordates have, at some time during their life, a notochord, a dorsal
nerve cord, and gill slits. The phylum Chordata comprises three subphyla: Cephalochordata
(amphioxus), Urochordata (tunicates) and Vertebrata. Hemichordates (acorn-worms) are
usually considered a separate phylum.
The cephalochordates have a poorly defined head and a notochord that extends the entire
length of the body. The common name, amphioxus, which means “sharp at both ends”, refers to
any member of the genus Branchiostoma. Because of its many primitive and generalized
chordate features, B. lanceolatum is the form most commonly studied in the laboratory.
Amphioxus is a small animal, only about two to three inches in length, that can be found
lying along sandy seashores in temperate zones. It resembles a fish and has an elongated but
laterally compressed body. It lacks paired appendages but has a median dorsal fin that is most
highly developed at the caudal end. Amphioxus differs from fishes in its lack of a skull,
vertebrae, brain, heart, and kidneys. The body surface is semitransparent, since the epithelium
covering its body is but a single cell in thickness and underlying connective tissue is gelatinous.
Because of this semitransparency, the angularly shaped muscle masses, the myomeres, can be
clearly seen.
During most of the day, Amphioxus assumes a feeding position by burrowing into the
sand, leaving only its head exposed. While in its burrow, Amphioxus is primarily engaged in
obtaining food from the seawater that flows over its head at regular intervals. To extract this
food, which consist of microscopic organisms suspended in water, Amphioxus utilizes a
concentrating and water-filtering mechanism located in the pharynx.

EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY (Fig. 1.1)

Median dorsal fin: Extends the entire length of the body.

Caudal fin: An expanded continuation of the median dorsal fin at the posterior end
of the body.
Ventral fin: An anterior continuation of the caudal fin extending to the atriopore.
Atriopore: The opening of an internal cavity, the atrium, located just in front of
the ventral fin.
Rostrum: The snout-like anterior end of the body that projects over the oral
hood (see definition below)
Buccal cirri: Twenty-two stiff tentacle-like structures projecting from the free edge
of the oral hood. They may keep out large particles from the pharynx
and possibly contain taste discriminating elements.
Myomeres: The longitudinal series of about 60 angularly shaped muscle segments
known also as myotomes.
Myosepta: The connective tissue partitions separating the myomeres.
Gonads: The row of rectangular bulging masses located beneath the ventral
ends of the myomeres.

INTERNAL MORPHOLOGY (Figs. 1.2 – 1.4)

Examine a cleared, stained whole mount with a dissecting microscope or the low power of
a compound microscope.

Metapleural folds: A pair of integumentary folds that extend along the ventrolateral
surfaces from the anterior pharyngeal region almost to the atriopore.
Oral hood: A funnel-shaped membranes located at the ventral part of the anterior
end of the body. It helps to direct the water vortex, created by the
wheel organ (see definition), into the mouth.
Vestibule: Funnel-shaped cavity enclosed by the oral hood.
Fin rays: The internal connective tissue rods that is present as supporting
elements in both the dorsal and ventral fins. They are absent from the
caudal fin.
Notochord: The supporting rod that extends almost the entire length of the body.
Nerve cord: The elongated cylindrical mass of nervous tissue that lies above the
notochord. It is almost as long as the notochord.
Ocelli: A linear series of pigment cells lying along the ventral wall of the nerve
cord. They may possible serve as photoreceptors.
Eyespot: A mass of pigment cells located at the anterior ends of the nerve cord.
Its sensory function has not been definitely established.
Wheel organ: A series of finger-like projections, lined with cilia, which lies on the
inner lateral and dorsal walls of the oral hood. The cilia beat in such a
 way as to suggest a turning wheel, and they help to create a vortex of
water that is directed toward the mouth by the oral hood.
Velum: The vertical membrane located just behind the base of the wheel
organ. The velum may regulate the amount of water entering the
pharynx.
Mouth: The opening of the velum.
Velar tentacles: Short tender projection extending from the margin of the velum that
rings the mouth. By bending across the mouth, they may prevent sand
or particles from passing into it.
Pharynx: The chamber, interrupted by gill slits, that extends from the mouth to
the intestine.
Gill bars: Slender parallel oblique bars, supported by branchial rods that make
up the side wall of the pharynx. Cross pieces (synapticulae) link the
bars.
Gill slits: Elongated openings between the gill bars.
Atrium: The large cavity surrounding the pharynx. Its ventral boundary is
visible as a line extending below the pharynx to the atriopore.
Intestine: The digestive tube that extends from the pharynx to the anus. In some
books the intestine is divided into several segments that are not easily
demarcated; the short esophagus soon widens into stomach, or
midgut; behind the point of origin of the hepatic diverticulum, the
midgut narrows into the ileocolic ring, beyond which, the still narrow
hindgut extends to the anus.
Hepatic diverticulum The pouch that projects forward as an out pocketing of the intestine
(midgut). It extends along the right side of the posterior part of the
pharynx.

CROSS SECTIONS
Using the low power of a compound microscope, examine cross sections through the
buccal cavity, pharynx, intestinal region, and tail, in addition to the structures described in the
preceding sections.

All the cross sections present the following features in common.

Epidermis: The outer cellular layer of the body consisting of a single layer of columnar
cells. It is covered by an acellular cuticle and rests upon a thin layer of
connective tissue.
Dorsal fin: A short projection from the dorsal midline region that is supported by the
gelatinous fin rays.
Myomeres: Masses of muscle under the skin, separated by connective tissue partitions,
the myosepta.
Nerve cord: The triangular-like structure located in the midline; slightly ventral to the
dorsal fin. It has a very narrow cavity called the neurocoel.
Notochord: The larger rounded structure that lies beneath the nerve cord. It is
surrounded by a connective tissue sheath.

Sections Through Oral Hood (Fig. 1.5)

Vestibule: The central cavity of the oral hood, located under the front part of the
notochord. The thickened ciliated epithelial masses of the wheel organ are
found on the inner hood wall.
Buccal cirri: A number of these cut transversely, are present at the lower boundary of the
vestibule.

Section Through Pharynx (Fig. 1.6)

Metapleural folds: These project down from the ventrolateral corners of the body.
Transverse muscle: This lies in the wrinkled body wall between the metapleural folds. It
extends from the myomeres on one side to those on the other. When
 it contracts, it compresses the atrial cavity dorsal to it from side to
side, thus expelling its water.
Pharynx: The narrow cavity limited laterally by gill bars that extend between the
notochord and transverse muscle. The gill bars, which are separated
by gill slits, consist of two types, primary and secondary. The
secondary, or tongue, bars are smaller and do not contain a coelomic
cavity near their lateral end. The gill bars are braced by small bridges
called synapticulae.
Endostyle: The deeply grooved structure in the floor of the pharynx. It contains
both ciliated and glandular cells.
Epipharyngeal groove: Located in the roof of the pharynx opposite the endostyle.
Atrium: The cavity that surrounds the pharynx laterally and ventrally.
Gonads: These are located ventrolaterally in most sections. They protrude into
the atrium from the body wall, still bounded by the atrial lining. An
ovary consists of many large nucleated cells. A testis consists of much
smaller germ cells.
Hepatic diverticulum: In sections near the posterior end of the pharynx, this hollow oval-
shaped structure is seen on the right side of the pharynx. It lies within
the atrial cavity.
Coelom: Present in the cross section as three sacs; one, the ventral coelomic
cavity, lies beneath the endostyle; the other two, the dorsolateral
coelomic cavities, are located on both sides of the epipharyngeal
groove.
Blood vessels: The paired dorsal aortae may be seen between the notochord and
the dorsal end of each of the paired coelomic cavities. The ventral
aorta is enclosed within the ventral coelomic cavity. Cardinal veins
are present close to the midpoint of the medial border of the gonads.

Section Through Intestinal Region (Fig. 1.7)

Intestine: This is the large, hollow, oval structure lying ventral to the unpaired dorsal
aorta. Beneath the intestine is the subintestinal vein.
Ventral fin: This fin is seen in cross sections of the intestine at levels posterior to the
atriopore. At levels anterior to the atriopore, metapleural folds will be seen
its place.
Section Through Tail (Fig. 1.8)

Caudal fin: This is narrower and higher than either the dorsal or ventral fins.
 Exercise No. 1
ANATOMY OF AMPHIOXUS

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