M.E. DeMont and G.W. Wright (1993). Elastic arteries in a primitive
vertebrae: mechanics of the lamprey ventral aorta. Experimentia 49:
43-46.
Summary
Lamprey exhibit important structural biochemical differences
in their connective tissues relative to higher vertebrates. The
lamprey ventral aorta wall, for example, is composed principally of
microfibrils, not elastin and collagen as in higher vertebrates.
Our working hypothesis was that this arrangement of microfibrils is
primitive, but provides sufficient elastic behaviour to function as
aortae in higher vertebrates. To support this hypothesis, we
measured the mechanical properties of the ventral aorta wall of the
lamprey, and showed that the architecture provides a mechanical
structure that does produce functional mechanical properties
similar to aortae in higher vertebrates.
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Edwin DeMont, Associate Professor
Biology Department, St. Francis Xavier University
P.O. Box 5000, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 2W5 Canada
Voice 902-867-5116 FAX 902-867-2389
edemont@juliet.stfx.ca -
June 18, 1995