The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Micro-computed X-ray tomography: a new non-destructive method of assessing sectional, fly-through and 3D imaging of a soft-bodied marine worm

Micro-computed X-ray tomography: a new non-destructive method of assessing sectional, fly-through and 3D imaging of a soft-bodied marine worm
Micro-computed X-ray tomography: a new non-destructive method of assessing sectional, fly-through and 3D imaging of a soft-bodied marine worm
The detailed examination of the internal and functional anatomy of soft-bodied marine worms has, until now, only been possible using the time consuming and destructive techniques of dissection, histology and electron microscopy. This is the first description of soft body morphology in polychaetes (Nephtys hombergii) derived by means of a bench-top X-ray micro-CT scanner. The data are augmented, for comparison, by dissections, microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the same species to show how this non-destructive technique can rapidly and reliably produce high-quality morphological data. It can also be applied to rare or unique invertebrate soft tissue material from museum collections and also to large-scale invertebrate comparative anatomical studies possibly leading to greater evolutionary and taxonomic understanding. High-definition images were obtained without the use of special tissue enhancing stains or radio-opaque fluids and it is believed that this is the first time the technique has been successfully applied to this group of invertebrates. Extrapolation of the sectional imaging of regions of the gut and the production of three-dimensional rotating and 'fly-through' imaging can assist in assessment of aspects of functional anatomy.
fly-through, marine worms, micro-computed X-ray tomography, microscopy, Nephtys hombergir polychaetes, segmentation, virtual histology
0022-2720
123-133
Dinley, J.
da7483cb-45c4-4744-8d3d-ae51e6070696
Hawkins, L.
9c4d1845-82db-4305-acb5-31b218ac9c0e
Paterson, G.
6aba0bb1-91ce-48ad-8a1c-08bb6762be05
Ball, A.D.
c070e2a3-3308-4244-a436-bde1bb478e15
Sinclair, I.
6005f6c1-f478-434e-a52d-d310c18ade0d
Sinnett-Jones, P.
e9fa609b-2345-4ff5-ba57-d5c91f92063d
Lanham, S.
28fdbbef-e3b6-4fdf-bd0f-4968eeb614d6
Dinley, J.
da7483cb-45c4-4744-8d3d-ae51e6070696
Hawkins, L.
9c4d1845-82db-4305-acb5-31b218ac9c0e
Paterson, G.
6aba0bb1-91ce-48ad-8a1c-08bb6762be05
Ball, A.D.
c070e2a3-3308-4244-a436-bde1bb478e15
Sinclair, I.
6005f6c1-f478-434e-a52d-d310c18ade0d
Sinnett-Jones, P.
e9fa609b-2345-4ff5-ba57-d5c91f92063d
Lanham, S.
28fdbbef-e3b6-4fdf-bd0f-4968eeb614d6

Dinley, J., Hawkins, L., Paterson, G., Ball, A.D., Sinclair, I., Sinnett-Jones, P. and Lanham, S. (2010) Micro-computed X-ray tomography: a new non-destructive method of assessing sectional, fly-through and 3D imaging of a soft-bodied marine worm. Journal of Microscopy, 238 (2), 123-133. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-2818.2009.03335.x). (PMID:20529060)

Record type: Article

Abstract

The detailed examination of the internal and functional anatomy of soft-bodied marine worms has, until now, only been possible using the time consuming and destructive techniques of dissection, histology and electron microscopy. This is the first description of soft body morphology in polychaetes (Nephtys hombergii) derived by means of a bench-top X-ray micro-CT scanner. The data are augmented, for comparison, by dissections, microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the same species to show how this non-destructive technique can rapidly and reliably produce high-quality morphological data. It can also be applied to rare or unique invertebrate soft tissue material from museum collections and also to large-scale invertebrate comparative anatomical studies possibly leading to greater evolutionary and taxonomic understanding. High-definition images were obtained without the use of special tissue enhancing stains or radio-opaque fluids and it is believed that this is the first time the technique has been successfully applied to this group of invertebrates. Extrapolation of the sectional imaging of regions of the gut and the production of three-dimensional rotating and 'fly-through' imaging can assist in assessment of aspects of functional anatomy.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 22 October 2009
Published date: May 2010
Keywords: fly-through, marine worms, micro-computed X-ray tomography, microscopy, Nephtys hombergir polychaetes, segmentation, virtual histology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 152139
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/152139
ISSN: 0022-2720
PURE UUID: ba719c34-24d6-4790-946c-52ad2526f454
ORCID for L. Hawkins: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9236-2396
ORCID for S. Lanham: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4516-264X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 13 May 2010 15:33
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:39

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: J. Dinley
Author: L. Hawkins ORCID iD
Author: G. Paterson
Author: A.D. Ball
Author: I. Sinclair
Author: P. Sinnett-Jones
Author: S. Lanham ORCID iD

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×