A morphological study of the anterior nervous system of the praesoma of Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae).

The nerve pathways in the praesoma, based on light microscopy of serial transverse, sagittal, and longitudinal sections stained with Ehrlich's acid hematoxylin are described for the first time for a memeber of Neoechinorhynchus. The route from the cerebral ganglion to the musculature and sense organs of the proboscis and body wall for 11 nerves, five pair and one single, the presence and structure of the Stutzzelle (support cell) and its association with the neck sense organs are described. A comparison with the nervous system in the praesoma of Paulisentis fractus is discussed.