On the cervical vertebrae and their articulations in fin-whales / by John Struthers.

  • Struthers, John, 1823-1899
Date:
[1872]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the cervical vertebrae and their articulations in fin-whales / by John Struthers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (e) Lesser Fin-Whale (Balaenoptera rostrata, Pike-Whale) stranded alive at Aberdeen, July 1870. Young female, 14 J feet in length. Soft parts dissected1. I shall first consider the great Finners, distinguishing them by their localities (Wick, Stornoway, Peterhead, Norway), noticing afterwards the peculiarities of the young Pike-Whale. (A) In Great Fin-Whales. 2. Transverse Processes in the Great Finners viewed IN RELATION to function. The most striking feature in these vertebrae is the enormous mass of the transverse processes, completing a great lateral foramen (see Fig. 4) so large that it is more than half the size of the body of the vertebra, and is twice as capacious as the spinal canal; at once suggesting to the observer that a complete vertebrate segment is entitled to be regarded as presenting not merely two, but four rings. What is the function of these great rings? Contained within them is the rete mirabile representing the vertebral artery. This is a vast plexus. To realize the bulk of it, the block of verte¬ brae now empty should be turned up, the atlas resting on the ground. The series of rings, together with their connecting liga¬ ments, are then seen to form on each side of the vertebral bodies a great lateral canal, like a deep well. This canal is completely filled by the vascular rete, supported by connective tissue and some fat, except the small space occupied by the nerves which traverse it. The canal is continued backwards, diminishing, along the anterior dorsal vertebrae by the rings, or spaces, be¬ tween the superior transverse processes and the necks of the ribs, or the ligaments representing the ribs. This really wonder¬ ful plexus occupying the lateral canal forms communications in various directions, downwards to the carotid region by the this year from Aalesund, Norway, for which I was indebted to the kindness of Messrs J. and G. Miller of this city. Although there was no history they are characteristic of B. muscuhis. Both lower jaws so like each other 'that they cannot be distinguished. _ Scapula and radius exactly the size of those of the Peterhead Razorback. Distal epiphysis of radius united, a furrow remaining. The state of the wings of the axis shows it to he more mature than the Peterhead specimen. 1 This Whale was alive when stranded on our beach. The external charac¬ ters, measurements, and results of the dissection were noted. The skeleton and various portions of the soft parts are preserved.