Histology and morphology of sauropod cervical ribs: Implications for neck posture

蜥脚类颈肋的组织学和形态：对颈部姿势的影响

• 批准号: 169852986
• 负责人: Professor Dr. Martin Sander
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Abteilung Biologie und ihre Didaktik
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Units
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2009-12-31 至 2013-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/169852986?language=en
• 关键词: Histology; morphology; sauropod; cervical; ribs

The long neck of sauropod dinosaurs is probably the most distinctive feature of their anatomy and one of the key evolutionary innovations, permitting their unique gigantism by reducing the energy spent feeding. However, the position in which the neck was held is controversial, with either a nearly horizontal or a distinctly raised neck favored by different workes. Arguments put forth have centered on the constraints imposed by the cardiovascular system, the mobility of the intervertebral joints, and on biomechanical considerations. Surprisingly, the distinctive and sometimes extremely elongated cervical ribs (different sauropod taxa have different configurations) have not been studied in this regard although a bracing function has been hypothesized for the cervical ribs. We intend to study the bone histology and microanatomy of sauropod cervical ribs with the aim of reconstructing the soft tissue parts of the musculoskeletal system involving the ribs and the vertebrae in order to test the bracing hypothesis. This is possible because insertions of tendons, ligaments, and muscles leave a trace in the bone tissue, the Sharpey`s fibres. These can be seen in thin sections but we also intend to visualize them using a non-destrcutive method, micro-CT scanning. Ventral or dorsal bracing by the cervical ribs would have resulted in a stiff neck with restricted mobility. On the other hand, a lack of a bracing function together with an auxilliary muscle and tendon system would suggest highly flexible necks, at least in some taxa.

蜥脚类恐龙的长脖子可能是它们解剖学上最独特的特征，也是进化的关键创新之一，通过减少进食所消耗的能量，使它们具有独特的自律性。然而，颈部的位置是有争议的，不同的工人喜欢几乎水平或明显凸起的颈部。提出的论点集中在心血管系统的限制，椎间关节的活动性，以及生物力学的考虑。令人惊讶的是，独特的，有时非常细长的颈肋（不同的蜥脚类动物类群有不同的配置）没有在这方面的研究，虽然支撑功能已被假设为颈肋。我们打算研究骨组织学和显微解剖的蜥脚类动物颈部肋骨重建的肌肉骨骼系统的软组织部分，涉及肋骨和椎骨，以测试支撑假说的目的。这是可能的，因为肌腱，韧带和肌肉的插入在骨组织中留下了痕迹，Sharpey的纤维。这些可以在薄切片中看到，但我们也打算使用非破坏性方法，显微CT扫描来可视化它们。颈肋的背侧或背侧支撑会导致颈部僵硬，活动受限。另一方面，缺乏支撑功能以及辅助肌肉和肌腱系统将表明高度灵活的颈部，至少在某些分类群中。