Publication: Fine structure of the pecten oculi in the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
Loading...
Date
1993
Authors
Braekevelt, Charlie R.
item.page.secondaryauthor
item.page.director
Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
The pecten oculi of the great horned owl
(Bubo virginianus) has been examined by light and
electron microscopy. The pecten in this species is of the
pleated type and is small in comparison to the size of the
eyeball. It consists of 7-8 accordion folds which are
joined apically by a pigmented bridge of tissue. Within
each fold are numerous capillaries, larger supply and
drainage vessels and plentiful pleomorphic melanocytes.
The capillaries are extremely specialized vessels, most
of which display plentiful microfolds on both their
luminal and abluminal surfaces although some
capillaries shoW but a few microfolds. The endothblial
cell bodies are extremely thin with most organelles
located near the nucleus. Al1 capillaries are surrounded
by a thick fibrillar basal lamina which is felt to be
structurally important. Pericytes are a comrnon feature
within these thickened basal laminae. The numerous
melanocytes form an incomplete sheath around the
capillaries and are also presumed to be fulfilling a
structural role. While the morphology of the pecten in
the great horned owl is certainly indicative of a heavy
involvement in transport, when compared to the pecten
in species that are more visually oriented it is smaller,
displays fewer folds and a reduced number of microfolds
within the capillaries.
publication.page.subject
Citation
item.page.embargo
Ir a Estadísticas
Sin licencia Creative Commons.