8 Chilopoda – Circulatory system

The tracheal and circulatory systems are well developed in centipedes. These differ in this respect from hexapods, which possess a well developed tracheal system but a rather reduced circulatory system. The tubular heart, the most important pumping organ, runs the entire length of the trunk. Off the heart in Scutigeromorpha and Scolopendromorpha, paired cardiac arteries emanate below every pair of ostia. Apart from the maxilliped arch, a mandibular arch can be found in Lithobius forficatus , formed by two arteries emanating from the anterior aorta uniting again underneath the foregut. The heart tube in chilopods is surrounded by cells that were early on termed lymphatic glands or pericardial cells. In L. forficatus and in Strigamia maritima , the heart is well innervated and the axons are covered by a myelin sheath. Two nerves emanating from the subesophageal ganglion connect to the dorsal heart nerve close to the first pair of ostia. Keywords:centipedes; circulatory system; heart; L. forficatus ; ostia; scolopendromorpha; scutigeromorpha