THE PULSATILE ORGAN IN THE TIBIA OF TRIATOMA PHYLLOSOMA PALLIDIPENNIS

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Abstract
The pulsatile organ, or "accessory heart," in the tibia of Triatoma consists of a membrane which divides the femur and tibia into a series of sinuses, a pulsatile muscle which propels the haemolymph through the sinuses, and a valvular membrane, which imposes unidirectional flow on the system. A possible innervation of the muscle is described, and simple experiments involving nerve stimulation demonstrate that the pulsatile muscle is under nervous control. Using partially isolated preparations of the pulsatile organ, it has been shown that the organ responds to dopamine and serotonin, but fails to respond to acetylcholine. The pulsatile muscle therefore resembles visceral muscle rather than skeletal muscle.