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Journal of Experimental Biology 163,345-358 (1992)
Published by Company of Biologists 1992

THE APODEME COMPLEX OF THE FEMORAL CHORDOTONAL ORGAN IN THE METATHORACIC LEG OF THE LOCUST SCHISTOCERCA GREGARIA

P. M.J. SHELTON ¹, R. O. STEPHEN ², J. J.A. SCOTT ², and A. R. TINDALL ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, Adrian Building, University of Leicester, Leicester LEI 7RH, UK
² 2Department of Physiology, The Medical School, University of Leicester, Leicester LEI 7RH, UK

The mechanical connections of the metathoracic femoral chordotonal organ (mtFCO) with its insertion at the femoro-tibial joint are described. The apodeme complex is shown to consist of a distal cuticular rod that is replaced proximally by dorsal and ventral ligaments. The dorsal ligament is a direct continuation of the distal rod but proximally it is replaced by ligamentous cells. The ventral ligament has no cuticular core and consists of ligamentous cells throughout its length. The ligaments are composed of bundles of connective tissue cells that are each enclosed in an extracellular matrix containing acid-fuchsin-staining fibrils. Internally the cells are packed with microtubules. During extension and flexion of the joint, the two ligaments move differentially. During passive extension of the tibia, the ventral ligament remains taut but the dorsal one buckles to form a slack loop. Direct observation of living preparations shows that the loop is first detectable during extension of the tibia at joint angles greater than about 51°. During flexion, the loop gradually tightens and disappears. It has completely disappeared at joint angles of less than about 36°. Changes in loop shape were demonstrable using preparations in which the tibia was moved sinusoidally ±10° about a mean femoro-tibial angle of 90° and photographs were taken using phase-locked illumination. Other details of the apodeme complex are described and the significance of the findings is discussed in relation to mtFCO function.

Key words: chordotonal organ, locust, apodeme complex, Schistocerca gregaria

Accepted on October 28, 1991