Structure and function of the septum nasi and the underlying tension chord in crocodylians.

摘要: A long rostrum has distinct advantages for prey capture in an aquatic or semi-aquatic environment but at the same time poses severe problems concerning stability during biting. We here investigate role of septum nasi brevirostrine crocodilians load-absorption mastication. Histologically, both and interorbitale consist hyaline cartilage therefore mainly resist compression. However, we identified a strand tissue extending longitudinally below that is characterized by high content collagenous elastic fibers could tensile stresses. This connected with m. pterygoideus anterior. Two-dimensional finite element modeling shows minimization bending crocodilian skull can only be achieved if stresses are counteracted tissue. propose newly acts as active tension chord necessary stabilizing biting transforming stress into moderate compressive stress.