The structure of the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

1986/11/12 by John Graham White, JG White, Eileen Southgate +3 · 1 voice · 5,853 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · Neuroscience · #Anatomy #Axon #Biology #Caenorhabditis elegans #Cell biology #Circadian rhythm and melatonin #Computer science #Electrical Synapses #Electron micrographs #Electron microscope #Gap junction #Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms #Nervous system #Neuroscience #Physics #Process (computing) #Spaceflight effects on biology #Synaptic vesicle #Vesicle

paper · doi:10.1098/rstb.1986.0056

published in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences 314(1165), 1-340 (Royal Society)

openalex publication_date 1986/11/12 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

The structure and connectivity of the nervous system of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been deduced from reconstructions of electron micrographs of serial sections. The hermaphrodite nervous system has a total complement of 302 neurons, which are arranged in an essentially invariant structure. Neurons with similar morphologies and connectivities have been grouped together into classes; there are 118 such classes. Neurons have simple morphologies with few, if any, branches. Processes from neurons run in defined positions within bundles of parallel processes, synaptic connections being made en passant. Process bundles are arranged longitudinally and circumferentially and are often adjacent to ridges of hypodermis. Neurons are generally highly locally connected, making synaptic connections with many of their neighbours. Muscle cells have arms that run out to process bundles containing motoneuron axons. Here they receive their synaptic input in defined regions along the surface of the bundles, where motoneuron axons reside. Most of the morphologically identifiable synaptic connections in a typical animal are described. These consist of about 5000 chemical synapses, 2000 neuromuscular junctions and 600 gap junctions.

Citations

• The dauerlarva, a post-embryonic developmental variant of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
• Post-embryonic cell lineages of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans
• The embryonic cell lineage of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

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Discussions

• Comparing real and artificial brains by size References C. elegans https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1986.0056 Drosophilia https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07558-y Honeybee https://doi.org/10.1016/s1 [bsky, 5 points, 0 comments]

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