The anatomy and blood supply of the urogenital system of lepidosteus platystomus rafinesque

Abstract A description of the urogenital system in both sexes of Lepidosteus platystomus Rafinesque, and new observations on the blood supply to this system as well as to the rest of the viscera is given. The testes resemble the true piscine type. The sperm are carried by numerous vasa efferentia to the kidney tubules, through the mesonephros to the wolffian duct, and to the exterior as in the elasmobranchs and amphibians. The most anterior of the vasa efferentia are non‐functional. The ovaries are simple sac‐like structures continuous with their ducts. The oviducts transverse the ventro‐lateral surface of the mesonephros, and enter into the dilated portions of the wolffian ducts, where they join, directly anterior to the urogenital aperture. There are no ducts in the male homologous with the oviducts of the female. The kidneys fused posteriorly, appear to extend the entire length of the body cavity, but the anterior third is non‐urinary. By injection methods, the celiaco‐mesenteric artery is shown to be crowded to the posterior end of the body cavity by the complicated swim‐bladder, and runs anteriorly to supply the entire viscera. Its anterior portion is incorporated in the liver.