The organization of mechanosensory neuropiles in locust thoracic ganglia

Abstract
This paper describes the neuropilar areas of the thoracic ganglia of locusts (Locusta migratoria) in which projections from mechanoreceptors terminate. Reference transverse, sagittal and parasagittal sections through a meso- and metathoracic ganglion illustrate the relation of these neuropiles to known structures such as longitudinal tracts and commissures. The ventral association centres (VAC), divided into anterior (aVAC), medial (mVAC), ventralmost (vVAC) and lateral (IVAC) parts, receive terminals from tactile hairs (H; aVAC, vVAC and IVAC) and chordotonal organs (CO; mVAC). Newly defined neuropilar areas are the lateral association centres (LAC) which are divided into an anterior (aLAC) and posterior part (pLAC). These receive projections from hair plates (HP), campaniform sensilla (CS), multipolar sensory cells (MS), strand receptors (SR) and chordotonal organs (CO). In contrast to the VACs they also contain fibres of motorneurons.