Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/2794
Scientific nameBalaenoptera acutorostrata
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameVagina, urogenital sinus, Vulva, Organs of Generation, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionThe opening of the vagina with the urogenital sinus and vulva from a minke whale.
The urethra has been marked with a bougie.
This is one of 32 surviving preparations from a minke or 'Piked Whale' dissected by John Hunter. The animal, a young female, was caught off the Dogger Bank in the North Sea in January 1787. It was brought to London where it was exhibited at the John O'Groats public house near St George's Fields in South London on 17 January. It was subsequently purchased by John Hunter.
Production date 1787
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Related objectsRCSHC/2792RCSHC/2793
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 4: The Long Gallery
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in a circular glass jar with glass lid.
Materialglass (material)
Balaenoptera
Dimensions
whole height: 310 mm
whole diameter: 141 mm
whole weight: 5400 g
whole diameter: 141 mm
whole weight: 5400 g
Bibliography
SourceDobson 1970-71
Transcript2794: The termination of the vagina, with the urogenital sinus and vulva, of the same Balaenoptera. The vulva is a simple cleft with parallel margins which open at their dorsal end to include a wedge-shaped prominence projecting downwards from the margin of the anus, and at the ventral end diverge in a similar way to embrace the swelling formed by the body of the clitoris and its dorsally directed free extremity. The urogenital sinus or vestibule is very shallow; between it and the vagina is a circular fold, beneath the ventral part of which is situated the opening of the urethra. This is marked by a bougie.
SourceHunter 1861
Vol. 2, pages 113-118
NotesHunter's notes on the anatomy of the piked (minke) whale.
SourceHunter 1787d
NotesThe animal from which this preparation was taken is illustrated in Plate 20, and details shown in Plates 21-22. In his introduction Hunter states that he has studied one example of this species, an animal 17 feet long. Further details of its source are given in the caption to Plate 20 (below).
TranscriptFig. 1: The Balaena Rostrata of FABRICIUS, or Piked Whale. It was caught upon the Dogger Bank. It had met with some accident between the two lower jaws under the tongue, in which part a considerable collection of air had taken place, so as to raise up the tongue and its attachments into a round body in the mouth, projecting even beyond the jaws. This rendered the head specifically lighter than the water, so that it could not sink, and therefore was easily caught. It was seventeen feet long, and was brought to St George's Fields, where I purchased it. The dorsal fin having been cut off close to the back, is therefore only marked by a dotted line. Fig 2. A view of the tail, to shew its breadth.
