The visceral nervous system of the earthworm: I. Nerves controlling the tone of the alimentary canal

Abstract

The alimentary canal of Lumbricus exhibits autonomous rhythmic movements, probably co-ordinated by nerve elements situated in its walls. The gut is subject to indirect control by extrinsic nerves which fall into two groups mutually antagonistic in their effects. Nerves which augment the tone of the gut muscles leave the central nervous system by the middle and posterior nerves of each segment and join nerve elements (apparently arranged as a plexus) situated in the peritoneum of the body wall, from which nerves pass to enter the gut by the ventro-lateral regions of each septum. Nerves which diminish the tone of the gut leave the central nervous system by the anterior, middle and posterior nerves of each segment and join nerve elements (also probably in the form of a plexus) situated in the muscular layer of the body wall, from which nerves arise to enter the gut via the dorso-lateral region of each septum. The alimentary canal receives another nerve supply from the peripharyngeal commissures of the central nervous system by means of a number of fine plexiform nerves partially embedded in the pharyngeal musculature of either side (pharyngeal plexus). The anatomical relationships of these nerves are described. The pharyngeal plexuses are shown to embody nerve elements which exert an indirect control over the gut, stimulation of these resulting in a fall in tone of all regions of the gut behind the pharynx. The nerve supply of the gut is compared with that which is known in other annelids, and the mechanism of indirect control is compared with that existing in vertebrates.