No abstract

To ascertain the pathway (s) along which forces are conducted from the hand to the humerus in the human cadaver specially designed pressure sensitive transducers were introduced into the radio-capitular and ulnar-trochlear components of the elbow joint. A constant force was applied to the hand, and changes in electrical resistance and hence pressure across the elbow joint where recorded. It was observed that 57% of the force applied crossed the radio-capitular joint while 43% crossed the ulnar-trochlear joint. The pathway of this force transmission is discussed with particular reference to the involvement of the interosseous membrane.

The morphology and carbohydrate histochemistry of ten teleostean intestines are compared. Although there is an absence of regional differentiation seen in higher vertebrates, specializations in some species occur in the form of intestinal swellings, pyloric ceca and recta, the latter separated by a valve. The intestinal lumen is lined by a simple columnar epithelium interspersed with goblet cells; multicellular intestinal glands are absent. Thick basement membranes seen in centrarchids and Perca flavescens closely resemble the stratum compactum found in the lamina propria of esocids. Granular cells, which vary in number from species to species, are often seen in the mucosa and submucosa but less frequently in the muscularis. In species with intestino-rectal valves, a rectum is easily defined by the abrupt appearance of lower mucosal folds, more goblet cells and a thicker muscularis. In the remaining species the above features appear gradually in the distal intestine. Goblet cells show species variations in localization of epithelial mucosubstances, which in broad terms are recognized as sulfomucins, sialomucins and neutral mucosubstances. In both proximal and distal intestines the majority of goblet cells contain sialomucin although small amounts of sulfomucin are also often present. In species without intestino-rectal valves, no changes in carbohydrates occur between proximal and distal intestines. The possible significance of the heterogeneous character of digestive tract mucosubstances is discussed.

The histology and carbohydrate histochemistry of ten teleostean esophagi were compared. Structurally, the four layers of atypical vertebrate digestive tract were consistently present. The epithelium was always stratified and in all but one species (Ictalurus nebulosus) contained taste buds. Esophageal mucous cells were not the typical goblet cells seen in other vertebrates but appeared to be of six different types, pairs of which were associated with particular families. In esocids, poorly developed mucous acini and serous monogranular cells were present. In all species, the subepithelial connective tissue was not divided into definitive lamina propriae submucosae due to the absence of muscularis mucosae. Variably present in this connective tissue region were argentophilic fibers and in esocids only, randomly dispersed striated muscle fibers. The arrangement of the muscularis was reverse to that of the general vertebrate plan. In mucous cells, three general types of epithelial mucosubstances were identified and in broad terms were recognized as sulfomucins, sialomucins and neutral mucosubstances. Morphological differences were accompained by differences in carbohydrate localization, each esophageal epithelium containing at least two different mucosubstances. However, the mucosubstances identified in each mucous cell had a profile of characteristics different in some respects from any other. Thus teleostean esophagi appear to perform an integrated diversity of functions as reflected by their complex morphology and carbohydrate histochemistry.

The histology and carbohydrate histochemistry of eight teleostean stomachs are compared. Three gross anatomical types of stomachs are described and their shapes appear to correlate somewhat with feeding habits. Each type can be divided histologically into a corpus and pylorus. Gastric glands, containing only one cell type, occur in the copora of all species, but are present in the pylori of esocids only. As a single cell can produce both enzymes and hydrochloric acid such cells may be comparable to those of amphibians but not mammals. Lamina propria and submucosa are indistinctly separated in corpora but better defined in pylori by an intervening muscularis mucosa. The arrangement of the muscularis into inner circular and outer longitudinal layers is the opposite of that seen in the esophagus. Gastric mucous cells show species variations in localization of epithelial mucosubstances, which in broad terms are recognized as sulfomucins, sialomucins and neutral mucosubstances. A piscivorous diet does not appear to demand any particular type of carbohydrate. Within the Centrarchidae, gastric pit cells vary in carbohydrate content from only neutral mucosubstance to only weakly acidic sulfomucin; two species contain both types. A positive PAS reaction on the surface of gastric epithelial cells is suggestive of a striated border and thus possibly absorptive function. The absence of stomachs in some teleosts and the evolutionary and dietary significances are discussed.