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Figure 16 | Frontiers in Zoology

Figure 16

From: The ultrastructure of book lung development in the bark scorpion Centruroides gracilis (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Figure 16

A regular pattern of air sacs (AS) and hemolymph channels (H) in the book lung of a newly molted second instar. Centruroides gracilis. TEM. The first instars molt while on their mother's back, but the development of the book lungs continues without interruption. Bridging trabeculae (BT) appear to be formed by fusion of small cuticularized components (CuC, Figs. 12, 13) or by cuticularization of cell processes that extend into the lumen of the air sac (asterisk, Fig. 14). One cell (C) shown here in the hemolymph channel (H) is ruptured and deteriorating while others may remain intact and part of the epithelial layer (E) attached to the hemolymph surface of the air sacs. The hemolymph channels at this location are 3-4 μm wide and have a substantial amount of cell debris. The air channels are 1.5-2.0 μm wide and are open for the passage of air except for the trabeculae. Scale, 2 μm.

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