Previous studies have described two distinct vascular systems in cetacean fins. However, these studies have been limited to Delphinoidea species, with little information on their three‐dimensional structures. In this study, the anatomical analysis of the caudal and dorsal fins of a dwarf sperm whale was conducted using X‐ray computed tomography and gross dissection with staining, providing the first confirmation of the two vascular systems in the fins of the family Kogiidae. This finding suggested that these vascular systems are common across Odontoceti species. In addition, we observed unique three‐dimensional structures in the superficial veins, which formed a reticulate pattern in both fins and converged at the centerline at the base of the dorsal fin, potentially influencing individual's heat reduction capabilities.
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机译：以前的研究描述了鲸类鳍中两种不同的维管系统。然而，这些研究仅限于 Delphinoidea 物种，关于其三维结构的信息很少。在这项研究中，使用 X 射线计算机断层扫描和染色大体解剖对侏儒抹香鲸的尾鳍和背鳍进行了解剖分析，首次证实了 Kogiidae 科鳍中的两个维管系统。这一发现表明，这些血管系统在 Odontoceti 物种中很常见。此外，我们在浅静脉中观察到独特的三维结构，这些结构在两个鳍中形成网状图案，并在背鳍基部的中心线汇聚，可能影响个体的减热能力。
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