There is a subepithelial nerve plexus but no nerve ring. There is a concentration of neurons, called the rhopaliar ganglion, near each rhopalium. The musculature includes a ring of circular epidermal muscles near the margin of the bell. Their contractions result in pulsations of the bell margin. This ejects water from the oral surface and propels the animal in the aboral direction.
Recovery is effected by elastic recoil of the mesoglea.
There are four oral arms, four gonads, four subgenital pits, four gastric pouches, and four or eight of each type of radial canal. The mouth has four corners and there are eight sense organs. Life History 1f. Examine a series of prepared slides of the life history stages of Aurelia . Specimens on commercial slides are often oriented in postures that make study difficult and you may need to look at several slides.