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Transvaginal Mesh Insertion in the Ovine Model
Published on: July 27, 2017
Patterns of cetacean vaginal folds yield insights into functionality
Dara N Orbach1,2, Christopher D Marshall2,3, Sarah L Mesnick4
1Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Plos One
|April 1, 2017
Summary
Complex vaginal folds in cetaceans, unique to these marine mammals, show significant diversity. These folds scale with body length, potentially acting as barriers in aquatic environments.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Comparative anatomy
- Evolutionary morphology
Background:
- Complex vaginal foldings are observed in cetaceans and artiodactyls, but their function remains unclear.
- Understanding these structures offers insights into reproductive adaptations in aquatic mammals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional morphology of vaginal folds in cetaceans.
- To analyze vaginal length and fold length patterns in relation to body size and phylogeny.
Main Methods:
- Dissection of reproductive tracts from 59 female cetaceans across 20 species and 6 families.
- Phylogenetically-controlled reduced major axis regressions to determine scaling trends.
Main Results:
- A high degree of vaginal diversity was observed within cetaceans.
- Vaginal fold length showed positive allometry with body length.
- Vaginal length did not significantly predict vaginal fold length.
Conclusions:
- Vaginal folds may function as physical barriers, potentially influencing seawater or sperm pathways.
- The findings contribute to understanding the evolution of reproductive morphology and aquatic adaptations in cetaceans.
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