The azygos veins of the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes weddelli (Lesson)

The azygos venous system of one Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) has been described. Both left and right azygos trunks were present with segmental anastomoses between them. The right azygos trunk was the larger and opened into the anterior vena cava; the left azygos trunk terminated in the left...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Zoology
Main Authors: Watson, A. G., Dowd, David A.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1972
Subjects:
Animal Science and Zoology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Weddell
Leptonychotes weddelli
Weddell Seal
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z72-208
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z72-208
Description
Summary:The azygos venous system of one Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) has been described. Both left and right azygos trunks were present with segmental anastomoses between them. The right azygos trunk was the larger and opened into the anterior vena cava; the left azygos trunk terminated in the left costocervical vein. At each segmental level the azygos trunks communicated with collecting sinuses into which drained blood from intercostal spaces and the extradural intravertebral vein. These collecting sinuses were themselves connected to each other by longitudinal anastomoses. The relationship of this system to blood flow during diving is briefly discussed.

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