I recently watched a really good documentary series called Inside Nature's Giants[1], featuring dissections of various large animals. In the giant squid episode they have a bit about the donut-shaped brain. I found this version of it on youtube:
Because of their use of tools etc it helps us relate to them in a special way. They also help us realise we're not the only cool and capable creatures on earth. I love that about them.
It would help a lot to supplement the section photograph with a sketch that had labels. The phrase "stripey-looking brain between the two advanced camera eyes" is not especially helpful. What a contrast this modern site makes to the old-fashioned Gray's Anatomy, e.g. http://www.bartleby.com/107/247.html for the human stomach.
First, I am open to correction. I usually focus on human anatomy, but have a special place in my heart for histology. This image is a histological slide, (a picture of stained cells) and rather low resolution, so specific cell structures are difficult to determine. Based on my education, experience, and links below, I believe the following to be the labeled anatomy.
>This section through a young octopus shows the stripey-looking brain between the two advanced camera eyes, surrounding part of the oesophagus (small white centre towards the base of the eyes). Also visible are two of the characteristic arms, with multiple suckers and thick nerves running through them. The strange and seemingly precarious arrangement of the
Based on what appears to be pattern in the "top brain" I believe it to be some kind of secretion or filtering organ. Based on my reference links above in the reply to bluenose69, I think it is the digestive gland. The stomach is actually much smaller and has a hollow opening at the very "top" of the octopus.
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[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 48.7 ms ] threadhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=088bhv3pjq0#t=49m34s
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inside_Nature's_Giants
Because of their use of tools etc it helps us relate to them in a special way. They also help us realise we're not the only cool and capable creatures on earth. I love that about them.
Then you read about stuff like this! So cool.
Hail Octopuses!
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteric_nervous_system
http://bioscicreative.com/portfolio-item/octopus-histologica...
Sources: http://springerplus.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2193-1... http://tolweb.org/accessory/Cephalopod_Digestive_System_Comp... http://chestofbooks.com/animals/zoology/Anatomy/Cephalopoda-... http://tolweb.org/notes/?note_id=4541 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestive_system_of_gastropods
>This section through a young octopus shows the stripey-looking brain between the two advanced camera eyes, surrounding part of the oesophagus (small white centre towards the base of the eyes). Also visible are two of the characteristic arms, with multiple suckers and thick nerves running through them. The strange and seemingly precarious arrangement of the
Sorry for being dumb :/