An ultra-structural study of the gills of Echinus esculentus

The ultrastructure of the gills of Echinus esculentus is described using transmission electron microscopy. The gills are covered by typical epithelial cells overlying a collagenous basement membrane. The coelomic lumen of the gills is thrown into a series of irregular grooves and ridges which are formed by long narrow cells from each of which projects a single cilium. There is a layer of muscle cells lying underneath these cells adjacent to the basement membrane. They are innervated by axons containing large granular vesicles and the significance of this innervation is discussed in terms of neuromuscular junctions in general within the echinoderms. This study shows that the main function of the gills is excretory and describes three apparent systems whereby excretory products and necrotic coelomocytes are removed.