bursa

The adult male tail including the the lateral fan and rays. [WormAtlas]

gubernaculum

A sclerotized cuticular structure at the base of the male tail fan which houses the retracted spicules and guides the eversion of the spicules through the anus.

ray

male sensory organ; nine bilateral pairs of finger-like rays (numbered 1 to 9, Left/Right) radiate from the tail and are embedded in a cuticlar fan.

excretory cell

H-shaped cell associated with the excretory system, largest cell in C. elegans.

cuticle

a rigid external coating which is secreted by the hypodermis, seam and some transitional epithelial cells which covers the outer body, the major openings into the body cavity from the exterior, and two large sensory bristles, the male spicules. The cuticle of the spicules, the hook, and of some portions of the spicule channels is especially rigid and is probably sclerotized. Similar sclerotic features are occasionally noted in the ventral surface of the male tail fan.

anal depressor muscle

a single, H-shaped cell which lies just above the anus and connects the roof of the anal canal to the dorsal bodywall; its contractions act to increase the size of the anal opening by lifting the roof of the rectum and hence facilitate expulsion of intestinal contents.

excretory canal

Four processes (canals) of the excretory canal cell each contain a central collecting lumen which feeds to a central lumenal canal in the cell body; the central canal forms a specialized membrane to release fluids into the excretory duct. These five canals form a continuous H-shaped channel which extends almost the full length of the body, generally in contact with the lateral hypodermis and the pseudocoelom.