Künzel W, Breit S, Oppel M
Institute of Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
Anat Histol Embryol. 2003 Aug;32(4):218-23. doi: 10.1046/j.1439-0264.2003.00448.x.
A total of 17 parameters (nine lengths, four heights, four widths) was used to characterize the shape of the skull in a sample of 69 pure bred cats. Results of the discriminant analysis confirmed three phenotypically different skull formations, i.e. the round-shaped, the triangular and the cuneiform. Further statistical analyses revealed that the appearance of the skull was especially variable in the case of a round shape and that the lengths had been especially affected by these characteristics. The round shape of the brachycephalic skull was attributed to a reduction in length of the face and braincase as well. In many cases, this condition was associated with disproportional increase in height and width of the braincase and an increase in convexity of the calvaria. The decrease in length of the face was more pronounced at the dorsal surface of the nose than at the palate. Therefore, the inclination of the bony nasal aperture became flatter and the inclination of the maxilloturbinate became steeper. As a result, the ventral nasal meatus changed its direction twice. This condition might predispose to dyspnoea by restricting the air passageways within the nasal cavity. Round-shaped skulls were also associated with a decrease in facial width. Morphological variants that were frequently seen in round-shaped skulls include almost rectangular inclination of the nasal bone and more distant extension of the foramen magnum between the occipital condyles.
在69只纯种猫的样本中，共使用17个参数（9个长度、4个高度、4个宽度）来描述颅骨的形状。判别分析结果证实了三种表型不同的颅骨形态，即圆形、三角形和楔形。进一步的统计分析表明，颅骨的外观在圆形情况下变化尤为明显，并且长度尤其受这些特征的影响。短头型颅骨的圆形形状归因于面部和脑壳长度的缩短。在许多情况下，这种情况与脑壳高度和宽度的不成比例增加以及颅盖凸度的增加有关。面部长度的减少在鼻背比在腭部更为明显。因此，骨性鼻道的倾斜度变得更平缓，上颌鼻甲的倾斜度变得更陡峭。结果，腹侧鼻道的方向改变了两次。这种情况可能通过限制鼻腔内的气道而导致呼吸困难。圆形颅骨还与面部宽度的减少有关。在圆形颅骨中常见的形态变异包括鼻骨几乎呈矩形倾斜以及枕髁之间枕大孔的延伸更远。
