The anatomy of the buccal mass and the function of nine principal muscle groups involved in the feeding movements, are described for the mollusc Tritonia hombergi. Anatomical and physiological studies on some 40 neurones along the posterior border of the buccal ganglia indicates that many are primary motoneurones to the muscles of the buccal mass. The feeding cycle may be divided into three phases of muscle activity termed Protraction, Retraction and Flattening, which are correlated with the patterned bursting observed in P, R and F motoneurone groups within the motoneurone population. A fourth group of motoneurones are thought to innervate muscles to the outer lips which are active during protraction. The patterned output of impulses in the buccal nerves during feeding cycles confirms that the motor control of the muscle groups may be explained in terms of the sequential activation of the P, R and F cells.
Celebrating 100 years of discovery
We are proud to be celebrating 100 years of discovery in Journal of Experimental Biology. Visit our centenary webpage to find out more about how we are marking this historic milestone.
Craig Franklin launches our centenary celebrations
Editor-in-Chief Craig Franklin reflects on 100 years of JEB and looks forward to our centenary celebrations, including a supplementary special issue, a new early-career researcher interview series and the launch of our latest funding initiatives.
Looking back on the first issue of JEB
Journal of Experimental Biology launched in 1923 as The British Journal of Experimental Biology. As we celebrate our centenary, we look back at that first issue and the zoologists publishing their work in the new journal.
Biology Communication Workshop: Engaging the world in the excitement of research
-BioCommunicationWorkshop.png?versionId=4616)
We are delighted to be sponsoring a Biology Communication Workshop for early-career researchers as part of JEB’s centenary celebrations. The workshop focuses on how to effectively communicate your science to other researchers and the public and takes place the day before the CSZ annual meeting, on 14 May 2023. Find out more and apply here.
Mexican fruit flies wave for distraction
Dinesh Rao and colleagues have discovered that Mexican fruit flies vanish in a blur in the eyes of predatory spiders when they wave their wings at the arachnids, buying the flies time to make their escape.
Social media
