THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FIBRE DIAMETER IN THE SENSORY NERVES OF THE CRUSTACEAN LIMB

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Abstract
[long dash]The investigation sought to measure the diameter of living sensory nerve fibers and if possible to establish a relationship between the rapidity of movements in the crustacean limb and the cross section of sensory fibers from the receptive fields involved in the reflex arcs. Over 2000 living sensory nerve fibers were measured in sea water and their receptive fields determined by tactile stimulation of areas on the limb extremities. The time relations of the opening and closing reflexes of the claw and the extension and flexion of the walking limbs were measured with a stop watch. The receptive fields were mapped out by stimulation of the exoskeleton with a fine bristle. The results indicate that the rapid closing movement of the crustacean claw involves sensory fibers of larger diameter than those innervating the receptive fields for the slow opening reflex.

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