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Structural elements of the gills of the shore crabCarcinus mediterraneus

Helgoländer Meeresuntersuchungen volume 46, pages 425–434 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

Fine structural studies were conducted on the gills of the shore crabCarcinus mediterraneus using scanning electron microscopic techniques. The results obtained show the structural organization of crab gills from whole gills including spiny elements over the 150 lamellae to lamellar components such as cuticles, median shaft, marginal canal, afferent and efferent lamellar vessels and hemolymph cells. Enormous surface enlargement is accomplished by a variety of structural elements which allow rapid circulation of hemolymph. In the form of a relatively small organ, the gills fulfill all the necessary exchanges of specific molecules between the crab and its environment. Aggregations of ca 1-μm particles covering the outer cuticular surfaces are considered to be bacterial colonies of unknown properties and functions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Biology, Riva Sette Martiri 1364/A, I-30122, Venice, Italy

    L. Dalla Venezia, C. Zago & A. Menetto

  2. Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Notkestraße 31, D-W-2000, Hamburg 52, Federal Republic of Germany

    D. Siebers

Authors
  1. L. Dalla Venezia
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  2. C. Zago
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  3. D. Siebers
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  4. A. Menetto
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Venezia, L.D., Zago, C., Siebers, D. et al. Structural elements of the gills of the shore crabCarcinus mediterraneus . Helgolander Meeresunters 46, 425–434 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02367208

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Helgoland Marine Research

ISSN: 1438-3888

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