Functional Differentiation of the Hindgut Epithelium of the Blowfly Larva into Longitudinal Bands

Abstract

The hindgut of blowfly larvae commences a short distance posterior to the entry of the malpighian tubules into the alimentary canal. It is divided into short anterior and posterior regions, which function principally as sphincters, and a long central region. The central hindgut is composed of three histologi~ ally distinguishable cell types, each forming a longitudinal band. The bands produced by cell types A and B each form about one-half of the circumference of the hindgut, whereas the cells of type C form two narrow longitudinal strips, each one cell wide, situated at the junctions of the bands of A and B cells.