Fig. 20

Muscular system of the apertural/orificial area of Cinctipora elegans, CLSM, stainings of f-actin (phalloidin, glow/red), acetylated alpha-tubulin (green) and cell nuclei (DAPI, blue or cyan). a Optical section through the orificial area showing the vestibular wall and longitudinal and circular muscles of the basal extracellular matrix. b Medial optical section of the same specimen as in A showing the atrial sphincter. c Optical section of the zooidal orifice. View from the distal side onto the orifice showing the rim of the vestibular wall and part of its neuro-muscular system. d Optical section of the same specimen as in C but located more proximally showing the thinner muscular system in the extracellular matrix underneath the vestibular wall. e Volume rendering of the orificial area, view from lateral side showing the arrangement of the vestibular muscles. f Optical section of the orificial area showing thick vestibular wall muscles vs. thinner muscles of the extracellular matrix. Abbreviations: as – atrial sphincter, ce – circular muscles of the extracellular matrix of the attachment organ, emi – muscles and neurite bundles of the extracellular matrix of the attachment organ, le - longitudinal muscles of the extracellular matrix of the attachment organ, o – orifice, t – tentacles, tm – tentacle muscles, tsm – tentacle sheath musculature, v – vestibulum, vm – vestibular muscles, vmi – vestibular muscles and neurite bundles, vw – vestibular wall