Gubernaculum (nematode anatomy)

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Posterior end of a male nematode, Gongylonema pulchrum , showing right spicule and gubernaculum Gongylonema pulchrum nematode from man Figure 2f.jpg
Posterior end of a male nematode, Gongylonema pulchrum , showing right spicule and gubernaculum
Drawings of a male philometrid nematode - E and F represent the gubernaculum Parasite140007-fig3 Philometra piscaria Moravec & Justine, 2014 (Nematoda, Philometridae).tif
Drawings of a male philometrid nematode - E and F represent the gubernaculum

In nematodes, the gubernaculum is a hardened or sclerotized structure in the wall that guides the protrusion of the spicule during copulation. [1] For example, in Caenorhabditis elegans , spicules serve to open and dilate the vagina of the female and the gubernaculum is a grooved plate in which the spicules move; the gubernaculum is controlled by two erector and two protractor muscles. [1]

<i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> free-living species of nematode

Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living, transparent nematode, about 1 mm in length, that lives in temperate soil environments. It is the type species of its genus. The name is a blend of the Greek caeno- (recent), rhabditis (rod-like) and Latin elegans (elegant). In 1900, Maupas initially named it Rhabditides elegans, Osche placed it in the subgenus Caenorhabditis in 1952, and in 1955, Dougherty raised Caenorhabditis to the status of genus.

Vagina part of the female genital tract

In mammals, the vagina is the elastic, muscular part of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vulva to the cervix. The outer vaginal opening is normally partly covered by a membrane called the hymen. At the deep end, the cervix bulges into the vagina. The vagina allows for sexual intercourse and birth. It also channels menstrual flow (menses), which occurs in humans and closely related primates as part of the monthly menstrual cycle.

Muscle contractile soft tissue of animals

Muscle is a soft tissue found in most animals. Muscle cells contain protein filaments of actin and myosin that slide past one another, producing a contraction that changes both the length and the shape of the cell. Muscles function to produce force and motion. They are primarily responsible for maintaining and changing posture, locomotion, as well as movement of internal organs, such as the contraction of the heart and the movement of food through the digestive system via peristalsis.

The shape and size of the gubernaculum are often important characters for the systematics of nematodes. [2]

Systematics The study of the diversification and relationships among living things through time

Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees. Phylogenies have two components: branching order and branch length. Phylogenetic trees of species and higher taxa are used to study the evolution of traits and the distribution of organisms (biogeography). Systematics, in other words, is used to understand the evolutionary history of life on Earth.

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Spicule (nematode anatomy) organ of Nematodes

In nematodes (roundworms), spicules, or copulatory spicules, are needle-like mating structures found only in males.

Philometra priacanthi is a species of parasitic nematode of fishes. Its name is derived from its host species, Priacanthus hamrur. It possesses dorsal lamella-like structures on the distal part of its gubernaculum, which can also be found on other of its cogenerates. The only species with a dorsal protuberance near the gubernaculum's end is P. priacanthi, however. P. lateolabracis can be distinguished from the former by the lateral caudal mounds separated dorsally, narrower lamella-like structures on its gubernaculum, shorter spicules, and by the testis extending anteriorly. Other gonad-infecting species differ from this one by possessing a smooth gubernaculum, and their spicules being of different lengths. Seven gonad-infecting species of Philometra can be distinguished from P. priacanthi by their host types, as well as by geographical distribution.

<i>Philometra cyanopodi</i> species of worm

Philometra cyanopodi is a species of parasitic nematode of fishes, first found off New Caledonia in the South Pacific, in the gonads of Epinephelus cyanopodus. This species is characterized mainly by: length of spicules and length and structure of its gubernaculum; structure of male caudal end; body size; location in host and types of hosts.

<i>Philometra lethrini</i> species of worm

Philometra lethrini is a species of parasitic nematode of fishes, first found off New Caledonia in the South Pacific, in the gonads of Lethrinus genivittatus. This species is characterized mainly by: length of spicules and length and structure of its gubernaculum; structure of male caudal end; body size; location in host and types of hosts.

Philometra lagocephali is a species of parasitic nematode of fishes, first found off New Caledonia in the South Pacific, in the abdominal cavity of Lagocephalus sceleratus. This species is characterized mainly by: length of spicules and length and structure of its gubernaculum; body size; location in host and types of hosts.

<i>Philometra fasciati</i> species of Nematode

Philometra fasciati is a species of parasitic nematode of fishes, first found off New Caledonia in the South Pacific, in the gonads Epinephelus fasciatus. This species is characterized mainly by: length of spicules and length and structure of its gubernaculum; structure of male caudal end; body size; location in host and types of hosts.

Philometroides eleutheronemae is a species of parasitic nematode of fishes, infecting the gonads of marine perciform fishes off the eastern Indian coast. It was first found in the fourfinger threadfin, Eleutheronema tetradactylum. It is distinguished from its cogenerates by the gubernaculum structure in males, as well as the shape and structure of the females' cephalic and caudal ends, and their oesophagus.

References

  1. 1 2 Bird, Alan; Bird, Jean (1991). The structure of nematodes. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN   0-12-099651-0.
  2. ↑ Chitwood, Benjamin Goodwin; Chitwood, May Belle Hutson (1937). Introduction to Nematology (Vol. 1). doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7355. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
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