Eimer's organ

Eimer's organ is a specialized sensory organ found in the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata). Named after German zoologist Theodor Eimer, this organ is composed of 22 appendages or "rays" that surround the mole's nose. Each ray is covered with approximately 25,000 minute touch receptors known as Eimer's organs.

Etymology

The organ is named after Theodor Eimer, a German zoologist who made significant contributions to the field of evolutionary biology. Eimer's work on the star-nosed mole led to the discovery and subsequent naming of the organ.

Structure and Function

The 22 fleshy appendages that make up the star-nosed mole's nose are covered in Eimer's organs. These organs are extremely sensitive to touch and are used by the mole to feel its way around its environment and locate food. The star-nosed mole is capable of deciding whether something is edible in just 8 milliseconds, making it one of the fastest foragers among mammals.

Neurobiology

The Eimer's organ is densely packed with neurons that transmit sensory information to the brain. The organ has a high degree of somatotopic organization, meaning that the spatial arrangement of where signals originate in the organ corresponds to the spatial arrangement of where they are processed in the brain. This allows the mole to create a detailed three-dimensional map of its environment.

Related Terms

• Star-nosed mole - The species of mole that possesses the Eimer's organ.
• Theodor Eimer - The German zoologist who the Eimer's organ is named after.
• Somatotopic organization - The concept that the spatial arrangement of where signals originate in the body corresponds to where they are processed in the brain.

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