Department of Animal Anatomy, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznan, Poland.
Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
BMC Vet Res. 2024 Sep 20;20(1):420. doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04280-9.
European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are small insectivorous mammals common in Europe. With increased urbanization, the species become more frequent in the cities and near other human dwellings. The anatomy of the species with the use of diagnostic imaging techniques along with the classical anatomical methodology has not been researched before. In addition to the description of this species' skull, the data may contribute to progress in hedgehog medicine, delivering a basis for diagnosing and treating head trauma in this species.
Cadavers of 30 European hedgehogs have been used to study the anatomy of the head of the species. Along with classical anatomical techniques - latex and corrosion cast specimens, x-ray, and cone-bean computed tomography scans were performed. The methods were then compared, and the detailed anatomy of the head was described. The skull of the Western European hedgehog was elongated and oval in shape, and could be divided into two distinct regions: one formed of neurocranial bones and the other of facial bones. The neurocranium was composed of the following bones: the occipital, interparietal, parietal, frontal, temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid, and pterygoid bones. The following facial bones were identified: the incisive, nasal, maxilla, zygomatic, palatine, vomer, and the mandible. The most important findings include the primitive tympanic bullae, the absence of a supraorbital foramen, and the lacrimal bones, which were indistinguishably fused with the maxillae.
The results of the study may be used in future research on the comparative anatomy of the other members of the Eulipotyphla order. With the increase of hedgehogs in the cities, it is important to establish new diagnostic and treatment protocols for wildlife rehabilitation centers. Anatomical and radiological descriptions may be used as a base for such work. The anatomical features of the hedgehog skull described in the study may prove useful for further studies from a comparative anatomical perspective. Additionally, the data may serve as a basis for developing identification guidelines for archaeological studies and forensic research.
欧洲刺猬（Erinaceus europaeus）是一种常见于欧洲的小型食虫哺乳动物。随着城市化的发展，该物种在城市和其他人类居住场所附近越来越常见。该物种的解剖结构及其使用的诊断成像技术与经典解剖学方法以前都没有被研究过。除了描述该物种的头骨外，这些数据还有可能促进刺猬医学的发展，为该物种的头部创伤诊断和治疗提供基础。
使用了 30 只欧洲刺猬的尸体来研究该物种头部的解剖结构。除了经典的解剖技术——乳胶和腐蚀铸型标本、X 射线和锥形束计算机断层扫描外，还进行了研究。然后对这些方法进行了比较，并详细描述了头部的解剖结构。西欧刺猬的头骨呈长椭圆形，可以分为两个明显的区域：一个由颅神经骨骼组成，另一个由面骨组成。颅神经骨骼由以下骨骼组成：枕骨、顶间骨、顶骨、额骨、颞骨、蝶骨、筛骨和翼骨。鉴定出以下面骨：门齿骨、鼻骨、上颌骨、颧骨、腭骨、犁骨和下颌骨。最重要的发现包括原始的鼓膜泡、没有眶上孔和泪骨，这些与上颌骨无法区分地融合在一起。
研究结果可用于未来对 Eulipotyphla 目其他成员的比较解剖学研究。随着城市中刺猬数量的增加，为野生动物康复中心建立新的诊断和治疗方案非常重要。解剖学和放射学描述可作为此类工作的基础。研究中描述的刺猬头骨的解剖特征可能对进一步从比较解剖学角度进行研究有用。此外，这些数据可以作为考古学研究和法医学研究的鉴定指南的基础。
