Muscle system organization in the Echinoderms. III. Fine structure of the contractile apparatus of the arm flexor muscles of the comatulids (Antedon mediterranea.

The crinoid arm muscles consist of obliquely striated fibers with striking differences in function and in ultrastructural features. These fibers can be distinguished mainly on the basis of different myofilament arrangements (A- and B-type patterns) and are variously combined at different levels (proximal, intermediate, and distal portions) of the arm. Some rare smooth fibers (C-type) are irregularly distributed in the periphery and in the core of the bundle. The characteristic features of the A- and B-type obliquely striated fibers are 1) a continuous and homogeneous structure of the Z line and 2) a very heterogeneous arrangement of myosin filaments which vary widely in size, number, and distribution from section to section. The significance of such an atypical, obliquely striated muscle may be related to the double skeletal system combination (endoskeleton and hydroskeleton) of the crinoid arms.