Properties and architecture of the sperm whale skull amphitheatre

•The sperm whale skull amphitheatre is found to be a sandwich composite structure.•Histology of the bone reveals the predominating layers have a substantial woven component.•The middle layer is macroporous but contains larger quantities of primary bone.•Nanoindentation reveals a stiffness of ca. 13...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Zoology (Jena) 2016-02, Vol.119 (1), p.42-51
Main Authors: Alam, Parvez, Amini, Shahrouz, Tadayon, Maryam, Miserez, Ali, Chinsamy, Anusuya
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cetacea
Diving - physiology
Facial Bones - anatomy & histology
Facial Bones - ultrastructure
Physeter macrocephalus
Skull - anatomy & histology
Skull - physiology
Skull - ultrastructure
Sperm whale
Sperm Whale - anatomy & histology
Sperm Whale - physiology
Spermaceti organ
Stress, Mechanical
Whale skull
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Summary:•The sperm whale skull amphitheatre is found to be a sandwich composite structure.•Histology of the bone reveals the predominating layers have a substantial woven component.•The middle layer is macroporous but contains larger quantities of primary bone.•Nanoindentation reveals a stiffness of ca. 13 GPa in each layer.•We relate the bone structure and histology to macro-mechanical properties, diving and crashing. The sperm whale skull amphitheatre cradles an enormous two-tonne spermaceti organ. The amphitheatre separates this organ from the cranium and the cervical vertebrae that lie in close proximity to the base of the skull. Here, we elucidate that this skull amphitheatre is an elastic, flexible, triple-layered structure with mechanical properties that are conjointly guided by bone histology and the characteristics of pore space. We contend that the amphitheatre will flex elastically to equilibrate forces transmitted via the spermaceti organ that arise through diving. We find that collisions from sperm whale aggression do not cause the amphitheatre to bend, but rather localise stress to the base of the amphitheatre on its anterior face. We consider, therefore, that the uniquely thin and extended construction of the amphitheatre, has relevance as an energy absorptive structure in diving.
ISSN:0944-2006
1873-2720
DOI:10.1016/j.zool.2015.12.001