肋骨鈎狀突

肋骨鈎狀突(英語:uncinate processes of the ribs)是從每個肋骨的垂直部分向尾部突出的骨頭延伸部分。uncinate來源於拉丁文uncinatus,意思是「鈎」。它們在鳥類(除叫鴨科外)、爬行動物和早期兩棲類魚石螈中被發現[1]

肋骨鈎狀突在鴿子骨骼中被用紅色標出

這些鈎狀突可以用來連接肩胛骨的肌肉,並有助於加強與後肋骨重疊的肋骨籠(rib cage)[1][2]。它們還顯示出通過增加參與呼吸肌肉的有效性而在呼吸中發揮作用[3][4] ,而叫鴨科缺乏這一突起的獨特之處[5] 。這一突起在一些反鳥類動物中也被發現[6]。在所有現存的脊椎動物中,肋骨鈎狀突是鳥類獨有的。與此同時,一些軟骨的鉤突存在於鱷魚中。肋骨鈎狀突在以下的脊椎動物的化石中被發現:喙頭蜥尾羽龍竊蛋龍類孔子鳥朝陽鳥長翼鳥,但是它未在始祖鳥中發現[6]

參考資料

  1. ^ 1.0 1.1 Kardong, Kenneth V. Vertebrates: comparative anatomy, function, evolution. McGraw-Hill. 1995: 55, 57. ISBN 0-697-21991-7. 
  2. ^ Bonney, Rick; Rohrbaugh, Jr., Ronald. Handbook of Bird Biology Second. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 2004. ISBN 0-938027-62-X. 
  3. ^ Codd, J. R., D. F. Boggs, S. F. Perry, and D. R. Carrier. 2005. Activity of three muscles associated with the uncinate processes of the giant Canada Goose Branta canadensis maximus. Journal of Experimental Biology 208:849-857. Full text頁面存檔備份,存於網際網路檔案館
  4. ^ Tickle, Peter G., A. Roland Ennos, Laura E. Lennox, Steven F. Perry and Jonathan R. Codd 2007. Functional significance of the uncinate processes in birds. Journal of Experimental Biology 210:3955-3961 Abstract頁面存檔備份,存於網際網路檔案館
  5. ^ Fowler ME & Cubas ZS. Biology, medicine, and surgery of South American wild animals. Wiley-Blackwell. 2001: 103. 
  6. ^ 6.0 6.1 Fucheng, Zhang, Zhou Zhoghe, Hou Lianhai & Gu Gang 2001. Early diversification of birds: Evidence from a new opposite bird. Chinese Science Bulletin. 46(11):945-949 PDF[永久失效連結]