Anatomy of the External Nasal Passages and Facial Complex in the Delphinidae (Mammalia: Cetacea)

Mead, James G.

doi:10.5479/si.00810282.207

Cited by 178 publications

(281 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

263

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The spermaceti organ in sperm whales is derived from different anatomical origins but is possibly functionally similar to the melon. In addition to the melon, the muscles and nasal diverticula associated with the complicated external nasal passage have an effect on the morphology of the underlying bones (Mead, 1975).…”

Section: Evolutionary Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The therian skull : a lexicon with emphasis on the odontocetes

Mead¹,

Fordyce²

2009

Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology

Self Cite

329

365

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press s m i t h s o n i a n c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o z o o l o g y • n u m b e r 6 2 7The Therian Skull A Lexicon with Emphasis on the Odontocetes J. G. Mead and R. E. Fordyce SerieS PublicationS of the SmithSonian inStitutionEmphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions in History and Technology Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to ZoologyIn these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report on the research and collections of its various museums and bureaus. The Smithsonian Contributions Series are distributed via mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world.Manuscripts submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press from authors with direct affiliation with the various Smithsonian museums or bureaus and are subject to peer review and review for compliance with manuscript preparation guidelines. General requirements for manuscript preparation are on the inside back cover of printed volumes. For detailed submissions requirements and to review the "Manuscript Preparation and Style Guide for Authors," visit the Submissions page at www.scholarlypress.si.edu. s m i t h s o n i a n c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o z o o l o g y • n u m b e r 6 2 7The Therian Skull They have returned to the sea and modified their tail as an efficient means of locomotion. As they adapted to the limited visibility in the aquatic environment, the odontocetes developed a system of echolocation that resulted in extensive modifications to the skull bones. This made descriptive comparisons very difficult and early anatomists unwittingly composed new terms for anatomical structures that had already been named in other taxa. This made anatomical comparisons, based on the literature, extremely tenuous. This lexicon is an attempt to remedy that situation in that it provides headwords and definitions for all the terms that have been used in describing the mammal skull and notes the synonymous terms. The lexicon includes the human nomenclature (Nomina Anatomica), the veterinary nomenclature (Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria) and the nomenclature that...

show abstract

Section: Evolutionary Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The therian skull : a lexicon with emphasis on the odontocetes

Mead¹,

Fordyce²

2009

Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology

Self Cite

329

365

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While an anatomical mechanism for sound production (specifically biosonar signal production) in odontocete cetaceans (toothed whales, including dolphins and porpoises) has been described (Cranford et al, 1996), the anatomical mechanism of sound generation in mysticetes has not yet been established. Odontocetes have a complex system of nasal air sacs (Mead, 1975) and fatty tissues (Au et al, 2006) that generate and modify sound. As mysticetes do not possess such structures, sound production is thought to occur solely in their larynx (Purves and Pilleri, 1983).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovery of a low frequency sound source in Mysticeti (baleen whales): Anatomical establishment of a vocal fold homolog

Reidenberg

Laitman

2007

The Anatomical Record

105

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The mechanism of mysticete (baleen whale) vocalization has remained a mystery. Vocal folds (true vocal ''cords''), the structures responsible for sound production in terrestrial mammals, were thought to be absent in whales. This study tests the hypothesis that the mysticete larynx possesses structures homologous to vocal folds and that they are capable of sound generation. Laryngeal anatomy was examined in 37 specimens representing 6 mysticete species. Results indicate the presence of a U-shaped fold (U-fold) in the lumen of the larynx. The U-fold is supported by arytenoid cartilages, controlled by skeletal muscles innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve, is adjacent to a diverticulum (laryngeal sac) covered with mucosa innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve, and contains a ligament-conditions that also define the vocal folds of terrestrial mammals and, therefore, supports homology. Unlike the vocal folds of terrestrial mammals, which are perpendicular to airflow, the mysticete U-fold is oriented parallel to airflow. U-fold adduction/abduction and elevation/depression may control airflow, and vibration of its edges may generate sounds. The walls of the laryngeal sac can expand and contract, may serve as a resonant space, and may also propagate vibrations generated by movements of the supporting arytenoid cartilages. The extensive musculature surrounding the laryngeal sac may enable rapid and forceful expulsion of air from the lumen of the sac into other respiratory spaces, or maintain a constant sac volume despite the effects of ambient pressure (e.g., changes during diving or ascent). The size and complexity of the mysticete larynx indicates an organ with multiple functions, including protection during breathing/swallowing, regulation of airflow and pressures in the respiratory spaces, and sound generation. The presence of a vocal fold homolog offers a new insight into both the mechanism of sound generation by mysticetes and the divergent evolution of odontocete and mysticete cetaceans. Anat Rec, 290:745-759, 2007. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

show abstract

“…Namely, these are the ''medial rostral muscle'' and the ''lateral rostral muscle,'' whose function is not yet fully understood. They are probably highly derived portions of the mammalian maxillonasolabialis muscle (Mead, 1975). Since the anatomical organization of the rostral muscles seems to be very similar between the two families, this factor alone cannot explain the distinct bone density patterns described here, although Heyning (1989) reported that in a specimen of M. densirostris, the rostral muscles were more developed than in other congeneric species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Three main hypothesis may be proposed to explain the possible adaptive significance of the peculiar BMD pattern here reported for the beaked whales: (1) muscle insertion, (2) aggressive intra-specific interactions, and (3) diving behavior. Mead (1975) and Purves and Pilleri (1978) described the facial anatomy of several delphinid species, and Heyning (1989) of many beaked whales. These observations indicated a very similar general organization of the rostral muscles in all the species studied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone Density Distribution Patterns in the Rostrum of Delphinids and Beaked Whales: Evidence of Family‐Specific Evolutive Traits

Cozzi

Panin

Butti

et al. 2010

The Anatomical Record

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Toothed whales have undergone a profound telescopic rearrangement of the skull, with elongation of facial bones and formation of a hollow rostrum, filled in vivo by the mesorostral cartilage. In most species of the family Ziphiidae, this latter cartilage becomes secondarily ossified, producing in some cases the densest bone existing in nature. Starting from this observation, we wanted to investigate the patterns of distribution of bone mineral density (BMD) in the rostrum of two families of toothed whales with different ecological and behavioral traits: Delphinidae and Ziphiidae. We analyzed BMD non invasively by means of the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry technology, and found two different density distribution patterns that distinctly set the two families apart. Namely, BMD values decrease from the proximal to the distal region of the rostrum in delphinids, whereas the beaked whales show a BMD peak in the central region. Possible functions such as ballast or protection against clashes might be likely, although more data about the species of both families is needed to give better evidence. Anat Rec, 293:235-242, 2010. V V C 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

show abstract

Anatomy of the External Nasal Passages and Facial Complex in the Delphinidae (Mammalia: Cetacea)

Cited by 178 publications

References 0 publications

The therian skull : a lexicon with emphasis on the odontocetes

The therian skull : a lexicon with emphasis on the odontocetes

Discovery of a low frequency sound source in Mysticeti (baleen whales): Anatomical establishment of a vocal fold homolog

Bone Density Distribution Patterns in the Rostrum of Delphinids and Beaked Whales: Evidence of Family‐Specific Evolutive Traits

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About