Young B A
Department of Biology, Hollins College, Roanoke, Virginia 24020.
Anat Rec. 1994 Oct;240(2):243-7. doi: 10.1002/ar.1092400211.
The cartilago cordis, a cartilaginous element present within the heart, has been found in a number of vertebrates. The present study provides a detailed description and comparative analysis of the cartilago cordis in snakes.
Transverse sections through the hearts of 42 snakes and three monitor lizards were examined.
A cartilago cordis was found near the roots of the aortic trunk and pulmonary artery in eleven species of snakes. There is substantial variation in the size, shape, and precise location of the cartilago cordis.
The presence of a cartilago cordis does not correlate with body size, taxonomic relationships, or habitat preference. The cartilago cordis may simply represent an illustration of the potential for chondrification that is present in the connective tissue of the aorticopulmonary septum.
心软骨是存在于心脏内的一种软骨成分，已在多种脊椎动物中被发现。本研究对蛇的心软骨进行了详细描述和比较分析。
检查了42条蛇和3只巨蜥心脏的横切面。
在11种蛇的主动脉干和肺动脉根部附近发现了心软骨。心软骨在大小、形状和精确位置上存在很大差异。
心软骨的存在与体型、分类关系或栖息地偏好无关。心软骨可能仅仅代表了主动脉肺动脉隔结缔组织中软骨形成的潜力。
