The orthogonal bulge-disc decoupling in NGC 4698

The R-band isophotal map of the Sa galaxy NGC 4698 shows that the inner reg ion of the bulge is elongated perpendicularly to the major axis of the disc . At the same time a central stellar velocity gradient is found along the m inor axis of the disc. The same properties have also been recognized in the Sa galaxy NGC 4672. This remarkable geometric and kinematic decoupling is a direct indication that a second event occurred in the history of these ga laxies suggesting that acquisition phenomena could play a primary role in t he formation of early-type spirals.