Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae)
Recently, a unique mechanism for protecting the airway during lunge feeding was discovered in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae). This mechanism is based on an oral plug structure in the soft palate with similarities in musculo-fatty composition to the nasal plugs protecting the respiratory tract of r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220459 |
| _version_ | 1797845364824342528 |
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| author | Henrik Lauridsen Charlotte Bie Thøstesen Christina Carøe Ejlskov Pedersen Steffen Ringgaard Mette Elstrup Peter Rask Møller Daniel Klingberg Johansson Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup |
| author_facet | Henrik Lauridsen Charlotte Bie Thøstesen Christina Carøe Ejlskov Pedersen Steffen Ringgaard Mette Elstrup Peter Rask Møller Daniel Klingberg Johansson Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup |
| author_sort | Henrik Lauridsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recently, a unique mechanism for protecting the airway during lunge feeding was discovered in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae). This mechanism is based on an oral plug structure in the soft palate with similarities in musculo-fatty composition to the nasal plugs protecting the respiratory tract of rorquals from water entry and barotrauma during diving. As a follow-up, we present here a developmental series on fetal, prenatal, juvenile and adult specimens across five species of rorquals, showing differential maturation of the nasal and oral respiratory protection plugs. Nasal plugs are fully formed to serve an immediate crucial function at birth. By contrast, the soft palate remains muscular until the onset of solid food intake, where a musculo-fatty oral plug is developed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:37:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-defdb7307db74c5f85b1ed3e3cbd8efd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:37:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-defdb7307db74c5f85b1ed3e3cbd8efd2023-04-17T10:59:07ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032022-12-0191210.1098/rsos.220459Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae)Henrik Lauridsen0Charlotte Bie Thøstesen1Christina Carøe Ejlskov Pedersen2Steffen Ringgaard3Mette Elstrup4Peter Rask Møller5Daniel Klingberg Johansson6Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup7Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, DenmarkThe Fisheries and Maritime Museum, 6710 Esbjerg V, DenmarkDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, DenmarkDepartment of Natural History, Museum of Southern Jutland, 6510 Gram, DenmarkNatural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, DenmarkNatural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, DenmarkRecently, a unique mechanism for protecting the airway during lunge feeding was discovered in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae). This mechanism is based on an oral plug structure in the soft palate with similarities in musculo-fatty composition to the nasal plugs protecting the respiratory tract of rorquals from water entry and barotrauma during diving. As a follow-up, we present here a developmental series on fetal, prenatal, juvenile and adult specimens across five species of rorquals, showing differential maturation of the nasal and oral respiratory protection plugs. Nasal plugs are fully formed to serve an immediate crucial function at birth. By contrast, the soft palate remains muscular until the onset of solid food intake, where a musculo-fatty oral plug is developed.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220459lunge feedingoral plugnasal plugdevelopmentmagnetic resonance imagingX-ray computed tomography imaging |
| spellingShingle | Henrik Lauridsen Charlotte Bie Thøstesen Christina Carøe Ejlskov Pedersen Steffen Ringgaard Mette Elstrup Peter Rask Møller Daniel Klingberg Johansson Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) Royal Society Open Science lunge feeding oral plug nasal plug development magnetic resonance imaging X-ray computed tomography imaging |
| title | Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_full | Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_fullStr | Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_short | Heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae) |
| title_sort | heterochronic maturation of anatomical plugs for protecting the airway in rorqual whales balaenopteridae |
| topic | lunge feeding oral plug nasal plug development magnetic resonance imaging X-ray computed tomography imaging |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.220459 |
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