Lengthwise Adult Male Tail

September, 2008; DHH

Although not annotated with color codes on the TEM prints, this series appears to be one of the principal sources of information for the lengthwise drawings of the male motor system and sensory elements shown in Sulston et al (1980) and reprinted in The Anatomy chapter by John White in the book “The Nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans” (1988; edited by W. Wood). It provides a nice view of the relationships between the retracted spicules, the hook and postcloacal sensillum, the posterior portion of the cloacal chamber, and the many muscles organized around the spicules and gubernaculum (which appears as a very densely stained structure just above the spicule channel). The rays and fan cuticle are also seen rather well.