Is the intimate relationship between ligaments and marginal specialized cells in the snake's spinal cord indicative of a CNS mechanoreceptor?
Large neurons at the ventrolateral edge of the snake's spinal cord are intimately associated with ligaments that closely adhere to the whole length of the spinal cord. Ultrastructural studies show close similarities of these cells and their processes with those of other mechanoreceptors. Furthermore, the ligaments undergo changes within the intervertebral areas that would enhance focusing the stimulus to the receptor area.
D000818:Animals; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008022:Ligaments / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012911:Snakes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000648:ultrastructure*