Evolution and function of anterior cervical vertebral fusion in tetrapods

Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
Collin S VanBuren, David C Evans

Abstract

The evolution of vertebral fusion is a poorly understood phenomenon that results in the loss of mobility between sequential vertebrae. Non-pathological fusion of the anterior cervical vertebrae has evolved independently in numerous extant and extinct mammals and reptiles, suggesting that the formation of a 'syncervical' is an adaptation that arose to confer biomechanical advantage(s) in these lineages. We review syncervical anatomy and evolution in a broad phylogenetic context for the first time and provide a comprehensive summary of proposed adaptive hypotheses. The syncervical generally consists of two vertebrae (e.g. hornbills, porcupines, dolphins) but can include fusion of seven cervical vertebrae in some cetaceans. Based on the ecologies of taxa with this trait, cervical fusion most often occurs in fossorial and pelagic taxa. In fossorial taxa, the syncervical likely increases the out-lever force during head-lift digging. In cetaceans and ricochetal rodents, the syncervical may stabilize the head and neck during locomotion, although considerable variation exists in its composition without apparent variability in locomotion. Alternatively, the highly reduced cervical vertebral centra may require fusion to prevent mechanica...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1987·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·M M Abitbol
Jul 1, 1973·Physiology & Behavior·J C BloomO Maller
Jan 1, 1997·Molecular Biology and Evolution·C A Matthee, T J Robinson
Apr 17, 1998·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·S E Johnson, L J Shapiro
Dec 21, 2000·Physiological and Biochemical Zoology : PBZ·F E Fish
Nov 25, 2003·Nature·Shiro WadaTadasu K Yamada
Jul 16, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Nicolas Vidal, S Blair Hedges
Sep 2, 2004·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Alexander J Werth
Mar 30, 2007·Nature·Olaf R P Bininda-EmondsAndy Purvis
Jul 17, 2007·Diseases of Aquatic Organisms·Fernando FélixWindsor E Aguirre
Oct 16, 2007·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·Maria ZammitBenjamin P Kear
Sep 9, 2008·Journal of Morphology·Joshua X Samuels, Blaire Van Valkenburgh
May 6, 2009·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological Genetics and Physiology·Sabine BaussartVincent Bels
Aug 25, 2009·Acta Biomaterialia·Yasuaki SekiMarc A Meyers
Jan 19, 2010·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Johannes MüllerMarcelo R Sánchez-Villagra
Feb 9, 2010·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological Genetics and Physiology·Sabine Baussart, Vincent Bels
Mar 9, 2010·PLoS Biology·Michael J Benton
Jun 29, 2010·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Daniel J FieldRobert E Shadwick
Feb 1, 2002·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Frank E Fish
Dec 17, 2011·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·David M Wilkinson, Graeme D Ruxton
Nov 22, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Guillermo W RougierSebastian Apesteguía
Feb 27, 2013·Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·Juan-Carlos T GonzalezJoseph A Tobias
Apr 23, 2014·Journal of Morphology·D Cary Woodruff
Jun 23, 2015·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Collin S VanBurenDavid C Evans
Jun 1, 1975·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·James O Farlow, Peter Dodson
Oct 1, 1996·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Stephen M Gatesy, Kenneth P Dial
Aug 1, 1976·Journal of Morphology·Sharon B Emerson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 23, 2017·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Patrick ArnoldMartin S Fischer
Dec 15, 2017·BMC Evolutionary Biology·Patrick ArnoldMartin S Fischer
Jun 21, 2018·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Alejandro Rico-Guevara, Kristiina J Hurme
Nov 9, 2019·Journal of Anatomy·Taro Okamura, Shin-Ichi Fujiwara
Aug 7, 2019·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Abby Vander LindenSharlene E Santana
Oct 6, 2020·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Dorien S WillemsStefanie Veraa
Dec 18, 2020·Frontiers in Genetics·Jacob B PearsCatherine A Boisvert
Mar 4, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Ryan D MarekKarl T Bates
Mar 2, 2021·International Journal of Paleopathology·Florian WitzmannPatrick Asbach
Apr 15, 2021·Journal of Craniovertebral Junction and Spine·Aimee GoelSantosh Gaikwad
Dec 18, 2021·Anatomia, histologia, embryologia·Sa'ad M Y IsmailHelen M S Davies

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.