Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/1347
Scientific nameDipturus batis
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
DescriptionA section of the head and vertebral column of a skate dissected to show the cerebrospinal axis.
The spinal cord gradually and regularly decreases in size as it moves towards the tail, and the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves can be seen emerging at regular intervals from the cord, characteristic of animals with little development of the extremities.
Production date Estimated 1760 - Estimated 1793
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 4: The Long Gallery
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of bone and soft tissue mounted in a circular glass jar with glass lid.
Materialglass (material)
Raia batis
Dimensions
whole height: 357 mm
whole diameter: 111 mm
whole weight: 3674 g
whole diameter: 111 mm
whole weight: 3674 g
Bibliography
SourceDobson 1970-71
Transcript1347: A section of the head and vertebral column of a Skate (Raia batis), in which the cerebro-spinal axis has been laid bare by the removal of the posterior walls of the cranial and spinal cavities. The spinal cord is continued to the caudal end of the vertebral column, regularly and very gradually decreasing in size. The dorsal roots of the spinal nerves can be seen arising from the dorso-lateral borders of the cord at regular intervals and passing diagonally backwards to their point of exit from the neural canal, their direction becoming more and more oblique towards the hinder end of the body. In the anterior region the dorsal roots occur at more frequent intervals than further back, and here perforate the continuous cartilaginous walls of the neural canal. When separate vertebral arches are differentiated (about 80 mm. behind the skull) a dorsal root perforates each of the interdorsalia. A number of the anterior spinal nerves converge as they pass outwards to form the cervical and brachial plexuses. The parts have been finely injected.
