The open Circulatory system of the Horseshoe Crab
Heart: The horseshoe crab's heart runs along the dorsal side of the intestines and contains eight ostia. The horseshoe crab heart runs to the nerve cord and extends almost the entire length of its body. The horseshoe crab unlike any of the other animals on this website has an open circulatory system. This means that the horseshoe crab does not have a "true" heart. On average, the heart rate of the horseshoe crab is 32 beats per minute.
Blood: The blood travels through a system of arteries and ends up in their sinus tissue. When the blood reaches the tissue it travels through the book gills and collects oxygen. The movement of the horseshoe Crab's gills help the circulation of blood throughout the horseshoe crab. Once the blood of the Horseshoe Crab obtains oxygen it flows back to the Pericardium. To prevent the blood of the horseshoe crab from clotting the blood contains hemocyanin and a type of amebocyte.
Scientists are extremely interested in the blood of horseshoe crabs because of its ability to unclog itself.
Limulus amebocyte lystate(LAL)- The LAL is a protein in the blood of a Horseshoe crab. This protein is used for detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins. This test helps make sure that intravenous drugs, vaccines, and medical devices, are free of bacterial contamination. Horseshoe crab blood is the only test that is reliable for checking if these things are contaminated.
Pericardium: is a double- walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels.
Ostia: Allows water to enter the horseshoe crab
Blood: The blood travels through a system of arteries and ends up in their sinus tissue. When the blood reaches the tissue it travels through the book gills and collects oxygen. The movement of the horseshoe Crab's gills help the circulation of blood throughout the horseshoe crab. Once the blood of the Horseshoe Crab obtains oxygen it flows back to the Pericardium. To prevent the blood of the horseshoe crab from clotting the blood contains hemocyanin and a type of amebocyte.
Scientists are extremely interested in the blood of horseshoe crabs because of its ability to unclog itself.
Limulus amebocyte lystate(LAL)- The LAL is a protein in the blood of a Horseshoe crab. This protein is used for detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins. This test helps make sure that intravenous drugs, vaccines, and medical devices, are free of bacterial contamination. Horseshoe crab blood is the only test that is reliable for checking if these things are contaminated.
Pericardium: is a double- walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels.
Ostia: Allows water to enter the horseshoe crab