Fig. 28*. Four sections through the post-anal part of the tail of an embryo of the same age as fig. 28 F.
A is the posterior section.
nc. neural canal; al. postanal gut; alv. caudal vesicle of postanal gut; x. subnotochord rod; mp. muscle-plate; ch. notochord; cl.al. cloaca; ao. aorta; v.cau. caudal vein.
A ventral flexure of the præoral part of the head, known as the cranial flexure, which commenced in earlier stages ([fig. 28] D and E), has now become very evident, and the mid-brain[19] begins to project in the same manner as in the embryo fowl on the third day, and will soon form the anterior termination of the long axis of the embryo. The fore-brain has increased in size and distinctness, and the anterior part of it may now be looked on as the unpaired rudiment of the cerebral hemispheres.
Further changes have taken place in the organs of sense, especially in the eye, in which the involution for the lens has made considerable progress. The number of the muscle-plates has again increased, but there is still a region of unsegmented mesoblast in the tail. The thickened portions of mesoblast, which caused the tail swellings, are still to be seen, and would seem to act as the reserve from which is drawn the matter for the rapid growth of the tail, which occurs soon after this. The mass of the mesoblast at the base of the brain has again increased. No fresh features of interest are to be seen in the notochord. The heart is very much more conspicuous than before, and its commencing flexure is very apparent. It now beats actively. The postanal gut is much longer than during the last stage; and the point where the anus will appear is very easily detected by a bulging out of the gut towards the external skin. The alimentary vesicle at the end of the postanal gut, first observable during the last stage, is now a more conspicuous organ. There are three visceral clefts, none of which are as yet open to the exterior.
[Figure 28] F represents a considerably older embryo viewed as an opaque object, and [fig. 29] A is a view of the head as a transparent object. The stalk connecting it with the yolk is now, comparatively speaking, quite narrow, and is of sufficient length to permit the embryo to execute considerable movements.
The tail has grown immensely, but is still dilated terminally. The terminal dilatation is mainly due to the alimentary vesicle ([fig. 28*] alv), but the postanal section of the alimentary tract in front of this is now a solid cord of cells. Both the alimentary vesicle and this cord very soon disappear. Their relations are shewn in section in [fig. 28*].
The two pairs of limbs have appeared as differentiations of a continuous but not very conspicuous epiblastic thickening, which is probably the rudiment of a lateral fin. The anterior pair is situated just at the front end of the umbilical stalk; and the posterior pair, which is the later developed and less conspicuous of the two, is situated some little distance behind the stalk.
Fig. 29. Views of the head of Elasmobranch embryos at two stages as transparent objects.
A. Pristiurus embryo of the same stage as fig. 28 F.
B. Somewhat older Scyllium embryo.
III. third nerve; V. fifth nerve; VII. seventh nerve; au.n. auditory nerve; gl. glossopharyngeal nerve; Vg. vagus nerve; fb. fore-brain; pn. pineal gland; mb. mid-brain; hb. hind-brain; iv.v. fourth ventricle; cb. cerebellum; ol. olfactory pit; op. eye; au.V. auditory vesicle; m. mesoblast at base of brain; ch. notochord; ht. heart; Vc. visceral clefts; eg. external gills; pp. sections of body cavity in the head.