The location of cerebral neurons innervating the three recently described flexor muscles
involved in the orientation of the posterior tentacles as well as their innervation patterns were
investigated, applying parallel retrograde Co- and Ni-lysine as well as anterograde
neurobiotin tracings via the olfactory and the peritentacular nerves. The neurons are clustered
in eight groups in the cerebral ganglion and they send a common innervation pathway via the
olfactory nerve to the flexor and the tegumental muscles as well as the tentacular retractor
muscle and distinct pathways via the internal and the external peritentacular nerves to these
muscles except the retractor muscle. The three anchoring points of the three flexor muscles at
the base of the tentacle outline the directions of three force vectors generated by the
contraction of the muscles along which they can pull or move the protracted tentacle which
enable the protracted tentacle to bend around a basal pivot. In the light of earlier physiological
and the present anatomical findings we suggest that the common innervation pathway to the
muscles is required to the tentacle withdrawal mechanism whereas the distinct pathways serve
first of all the bending of the protracted posterior tentacles during foraging
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