The Spinal Canal

Vital, J. M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-20925-4_23

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 10 publications

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“…The epidural space of A. mississippiensis is unusual among vertebrates due to the elaboration of the venous sinus, which effectively encircles the spinal dura (Figure 7). In humans and other mammals, there is a venous plexus in the epidural space (Liguoro & Barreau, 2020), but this plexus fills only a portion of the “reserve space” within the vertebral canal (Vital, 2020). In Alligator , where there is little to no epidural adipose tissue, no prominent epidural arterial network, and little non‐venous space, the vertebral canal is effectively filled by the venous sinus and the spinal dura it surrounds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the spinal venous sinus of Alligator mississippiensis

Parker,

Cramberg,

Scott

et al. 2024

The Anatomical Record

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The epidural space of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is largely filled by a continuous venous sinus. This venous sinus extends throughout the trunk and tail of the alligator, and is continuous with the dural sinuses surrounding the brain. Segmental spinal veins (sl) link the spinal venous sinus (vs) to the somatic and visceral venous drainage. Some of these sl, like the caudal head vein along the occipital plate of the skull, are enlarged, suggesting more functional linkage. No evidence of venous valves or external venous sphincters was found associated with the vs; the relative scarcity of smooth muscle in the venous wall of the sinus suggests limited physiological regulation. The proatlas (pr), which develops between the occipital plate and C1 in crocodylians, is shaped like a neural arch and is fused to the dorsal surface of the vs. The present study suggests that the pr may function to propel venous blood around the brain and spinal cord. The vs effectively encloses the spinal dura, creating a tube‐within‐a‐tube system with the (smaller volume) spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Changes in venous blood pressure, as are likely during locomotion, would impact dural compliance and CSF pressure waves propagating along the spinal cord.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the spinal venous sinus of Alligator mississippiensis

Parker,

Cramberg,

Scott

et al. 2024

The Anatomical Record

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Morphometrics of the Spinal Cord and Surrounding Structures in Alligator mississippiensis

Greer

Cramberg

Young

2022

Biology

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Understanding the fluid dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid requires a quantitative description of the spaces in which it flows, including the spinal cord and surrounding meninges. The morphometrics of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues were studied in specimens of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) ranging from hatchlings through adults. Within any size class of alligators (i.e., hatchlings), along the axial length there are significant differences in the size of the spinal cord, meninges, and vertebral canal; these differences can be used to define discrete cervical, thoracic, lumbar and caudal regions. When compared across the range of body sizes in Alligator, every structure in each spinal region had a distinctive growth rate; thus, the physical arrangements between the structures changed as the alligator grew. The combination of regional differentiation and differential growth rates was particularly apparent in the lumbar meninges where a unique form of lumbar cistern could be identified and shown to decrease in relative size as the alligator ages. This analysis of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues was undertaken to develop a data set that could be used for computational flow dynamics of the crocodilian cerebrospinal fluid, and also to assist in the analysis of fossil archosaurs.

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The Spinal Canal

Cited by 2 publications

References 10 publications

On the spinal venous sinus of Alligator mississippiensis

On the spinal venous sinus of Alligator mississippiensis

Morphometrics of the Spinal Cord and Surrounding Structures in Alligator mississippiensis

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