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.
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Date Issued
1994
Note
Language
Type
Genre
Extent
10 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
3331885
Additional Information
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.
This manuscript is an author version with the final publication available by http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03009629 and may be cited as: Wilkie, I. C., Emson, R. H., & Young, C. M. (1994). Variable tensility of the ligaments in the stalk of sea-lily. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 109(3), 633-641. doi:10.1016/0300-9629(94)90203-8
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution #1052.
Date Backup
1994
Date Text
1994
DOI
10.1016/0300-9629(94)90203-8
Date Issued (EDTF)
1994
Extension
FAU
FAU
admin_unit="FAU01", ingest_id="ing11831", creator="creator:BCHANG", creation_date="2012-01-12 08:07:34", modified_by="super:FAUDIG", modification_date="2014-02-13 08:29:03"
IID
FADT3331885
Issuance
single unit
Organizations
Attributed name: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Person Preferred Name
Wilkie, Iain C.
creator
Physical Description
10 p.
Title Plain
Variable tensility of the ligaments in the stalk of sea-lily
Origin Information
Elsevier B.V.
1994
single unit
Title
Variable tensility of the ligaments in the stalk of sea-lily
Other Title Info
Variable tensility of the ligaments in the stalk of sea-lily