Subcostal Vein Research Articles

Unsupervised machine learning and geometric morphometrics as tools for the identification of inter and intraspecific variations in the Anopheles Maculipennis complex

Geometric morphometric analysis was combined with two different unsupervised machine learning algorithms, UMAP and HDBSCAN, to visualize morphological differences in wing shape among and within four Anopheles sibling species (An. atroparvus, An. melanoon, An. maculipennis s.s. and An. daciae sp. inq.) of the Maculipennis complex in Northern Italy. Specifically, we evaluated: (1) wing shape variation among and within species; (2) the consistencies between groups of An. maculipennis s.s. and An. daciae sp. inq. identified based on COI sequences and wing shape variability; and (3) the spatial and temporal distribution of different morphotypes. UMAP detected at least 13 main patterns of variation in wing shape among the four analyzed species and mapped intraspecific morphological variations. The relationship between the most abundant COI haplotypes of An. daciae sp. inq. and shape ordination/variation was not significant. However, morphological variation within haplotypes was reported. HDBSCAN also recognized different clusters of morphotypes within An. daciae sp. inq. (12) and An. maculipennis s.s. (4). All morphotypes shared a similar pattern of variation in the subcostal vein, in the anal vein and in the radio-medial cross-vein of the wing. On the contrary, the marginal part of the wings remained unchanged in all clusters of both species. Any spatial-temporal significant difference was observed in the frequency of the identified morphotypes. Our study demonstrated that machine learning algorithms are a useful tool combined with geometric morphometrics and suggest to deepen the analysis of inter and intra specific shape variability to evaluate evolutionary constrains related to wing functionality.

First Eugereonidae (Insecta: Palaeodictyoptera) from the Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) of the Piesberg site near Osnabrück, Germany

Sandiella herbigi sp. nov. is the first record of the family Eugereonidae Handlirsch, 1906 (Insecta: Palaeodictyoptera) in the Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous: Westphalian D) sequence of the Piesberg quarry near Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany. It is represented by a single fragment of a mesothoracic wing with the typical coarse reticulation in this family. The species is mainly characterized by the following features: (i) the shape of the mesothoracic wing is extremely narrow, (ii) the posterior subcostal vein is ending before the wing apex, (iii) all the main veins show a typical bend close to the posterior margin. The new wing is the second most ancient record of the Eugereonidae.

Usual and Unexpected Variations in the Veins of the Posterior Abdomen: A Case Study

Two venous system components comprise the drainage of the posterior abdominal cavity. One component drains blood from the visceral derivatives of the urogenital ridge (e.g., kidneys, gonads) directly to the inferior vena cava (IVC). The other venous system collects blood from the body wall and drains into the azygos system through the subcostal vein, ascending lumbar vein, and lower posterior intercostal veins. Veins, and especially the azygos system, are notoriously variable. Much of this variability arises from the complex embryological development of the caval venous system in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities; but the formation of venous anastomoses representing multiple routes of drainage from a single region also contribute to the variability of veins.During routine dissection of the abdomen of a male cadaver (Caucasian, 67 years), the right testicular vein demonstrated multiple anatomical variations. An anomalous vein arising from several small tributaries at the lateral end of the 11th and 12th ribs was discovered during the dissection. This vein crossed the posterior abdominal wall inferomedially to drain into the right testicular vein. Further exploratory dissection revealed direct communication between the anomalous vein and the right 11th posterior intercostal vein, which could be traced from the origination of the anomalous vein to the connection with the azygos vein at the appropriate vertebral level. The anomalous vein represents an unusual route for collateral venous circulation between the azygos system and the caval system in the abdomen via the right 11th posterior intercostal vein. Additionally, the right testicular vein drained into the right renal vein instead of directly draining into the IVC. No other notable variations were observed in the abdominal vasculature. The left testicular vein, left renal vein, left posterior intercostal veins, and left subcostal vein all demonstrated typical merging patterns. Accompanying renal, testicular, and posterior intercostal arteries on the right side also appeared to have normal branching patterns.

Symmetry systems on the wings of Dichromodes Guenée (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) are unconstrained by venation.

The nymphalid groundplan, an idealized schematic illustrating the essential elements of butterfly wing patterns, predicts a consistent relationship between color pattern and wing venation. Moths in the family Geometridae have wing shapes and patterns that often resemble those of butterflies, and until recently, this family was believed to be among butterflies’ closest relatives. However, an examination of the geometrid genus Dichromodes Guenée, 1858 shows no consistent relationship between the central symmetry system and wing venation. Whereas the distal edge of the central symmetry system is predicted to reach the costal margin proximal to the Subcostal vein in butterflies and acronictine moths, it has no consistent relationship with the Subcostal, Radius, or Radial Sector 1 veins in Dichromodes. This finding highlights developmental diversity that was previously overlooked due to the overwhelming preference for butterflies in studies of lepidopteran wing patterns.

A rare variation of the hemiazygos vein draining into the persistent left superior vena cava

During an educational dissection of a 72-year-old Chinese male cadaver, the hemiazygos vein (HAV) coursing the left side that drains into the persistent left superior vena cava was observed. The HAV was formed at the junction of the 9th to 11th right posterior intercostal veins, right subcostal vein, 5th to 11th left posterior intercostal veins, and left subcostal vein; it then ascended posteriorly to the thoracic aorta. After collecting the accessory hemiazygos vein, it crossed over the aorta and the pedicle of the left lung via the hemiazygos arch, then converged with a communicative branch (vein of Marshall) that emerged from the left brachiocephalic vein to form the persistent left superior vena cava and entered the pericardium at the level of the sixth thoracic vertebra. Upon opening the pericardium of our cadaver, the persistent left superior vena cava was found to drain directly into the significantly dilated coronary sinus at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra. The azygos vein was formed by the union of the first to eighth right posterior intercostal veins and appeared to be finer and shorter than the HAV. The persistent left superior vena cava might be the result of incomplete degeneration of the left posterior cardinal vein. Knowledge of such variations could be of great value to surgeons placing peripherally inserted central catheters because incorrect placement of the azygos venous system can be detrimental to the patient. In addition, during heart surgery, awareness of such variations may prevent major complications, such as hemorrhage or damage to vascular structures, and possibly also provide new insights and perspectives to cardiovascular surgeries.

Antlions of southern Africa: Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, with descriptions of two new species and comments on extra-limital taxa (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Acanthaclisini).

The southern African species of Syngenes Kolbe, 1897, are revised and compared with their Afrotropical congeners. Three species occur in the region: S. longicornis (Rambur, 1842) and two new species, S. medialis and S. scholtzi, described and illustrated below. A key to the Afrotropical taxa is provided. The larva of S. longicornis is illustrated. The genus is widespread in the Afrotropical Region and extends to the Middle East and Oriental Region. Syngenes species are typically broad-winged antlions, with irregular bifurcate and biaereolate cells between the costa and subcostal veins, which distinguish them from other members of the tribe Acanthaclisini.

Influence of hydrodynamic pressure and vein strength on the super-elasticity of honeybee wings

The wings of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) usually produce bending and torsional deformations during flapping wing movement. These deformations endow honeybees with perfect aerodynamic control to escape predators and exploit scattered resources. However, the mechanisms by which honeybee wings recover from large deformations are unclear. This study demonstrates that honeybee wings are super-elastic that they can recover rapidly from one extreme contorted state to their original position. A comparative experiment is conducted to evaluate the difference in super-elastic recovery between attached and detached wings. Results show that the structural stiffness of wings is affected by the reticulate vein and the haemolymph pressure generated by the blood circulation. Further analysis indicates that the haemolymph pressure can increase the stiffness of honeybee wings, especially that of the subcostal veins. This phenomenon shortens the recovery time of wing deflection behaviour.

Structure and evolution of the stigmapophysis—A unique repose wing-coupling structure in Psocodea

The gain of foldable wings is regarded as one of the key innovations enabling the present-day diversity of neopteran insects. Wing folding allows compact housing of the wings and shields the insect body from damage. Wing-fixing systems have evolved in some insects, probably to increase the durability of the shielding function by the wings. Bark lice (Psocodea) are known to possess a unique wing-to-wing repose coupling system, but a detailed morphological and evolutionary study of this system is lacking. In this study, we examined this repose coupling structure by SEM in 32 species including representatives of all three suborders of bark lice (Trogiomorpha, Troctomorpha and Psocomorpha). We concluded that the repose wing-coupling apparatus independently evolved twice within Psocodea. In Trogiomorpha, the apparatus is located on the subcostal vein of the forewing and is composed of elongated rib-like structures. In Troctomorpha and Psocomorpha, in contrast, the repose coupling structure is located on the radius vein of the forewing and is formed by a swollen vein. These morphological and developmental differences in the repose coupling structures also provide phylogenetic information at different systematic levels.

Multiple variations of azygos system of veins: a case report

AbstractAzygos venous system drains the venous blood from thoracic wall. Knowledge of variations of its course and tributaries is important to cardiothoracic surgeons, radiologists and orthopedic surgeons. We observed the following variations in the azygos veins. Both azygos and hemiazygos veins were formed by union of lumbar azygos and subcostal veins of corresponding sides. The ascending lumbar vein did not drain into the azygos system. The hemiazygos vein had a larger diameter than the lower part of azygos vein and it joined azygos vein at the level of seventh thoracic vertebra. Accessory hemiazygos vein was totally absent. The azygos vein received 4th to 11th right posterior intercostal veins and also received 3rd to 6th left posterior intercostal veins. Hemiazygos vein received 7th to 11th left posterior intercostal veins.

Variable wing venation in Agathiphaga (Lepidoptera: Agathiphagidae) is key to understanding the evolution of basal moths.

Details of the ancestral groundplan of wing venation in moths remain uncertain, despite approximately a century of study. Here, we describe a 3-branched subcostal vein, a 5-branched medial vein and a 2-branched cubitus posterior vein on the forewing of Agathiphaga vitiensis Dumbleton 1952 from Vanuatu. Such veins had not previously been described in any Lepidoptera. Because wing veins are typically lost during lepidopteran evolutionary history, rarely—if ever—to be regained, the venation of A. vitiensis probably represents the ancestral character state for moths. Wing venation is often used to identify fossil insects as moths, because wing scales are not always preserved; the presence of a supposedly trichopteran 3-branched subcostal vein in crown Lepidoptera may decrease the certainty with which certain amphiesmenopteran fossils from the Mesozoic can be classified. And because plesiomorphic veins can influence the development of lepidopteran wing patterns even if not expressed in the adult wing, the veins described here may determine the location of wing pattern elements in many lepidopteran taxa.

The oldest Trichoceridae (Diptera) from the Lower Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan: implications of the biomechanical properties of their wings

ABSTRACTHere is described the oldest known species of Trichoceridae, from Sogyuty, near lake Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyzstan; Lower Jurassic: Sinemurian). The species is placed in the genus Mailotrichocera Kalugina, 1985in Kalugina & Kovalev (1985), based on isolated wings. The venation of fossil and Recent Trichoceridae is discussed in terms of the biomechanical properties of the wings. The wings of the stem lineage of the family, characterised by a short subcostal vein, also had a larger distal supporting sector than younger lineages, including Recent representatives.

An unusual new lineage of sawflies (Hymenoptera) in Upper Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar

A peculiar new lineage of sawflies (‘Symphyta’) is described and figured from a female beautifully preserved in Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber from northern Myanmar. Syspastoxyela rhaphidia Engel and Huang, gen. et sp. nov., shares many plesiomorphic features with the primitive Xyelidae, †Xyelotomidae, and †Xyelydidae such as enlarged and thickened first flagellomere succeeded by a series of thinner and shorter flagellomeres, absence of a transverse mesoscutal sulcus, multiple preapical spurs, and two protibial spurs among other traits. However, the new lineage has an apomorphically contracted forewing venation, lacks a subcostal vein, has a single marginal cell, and lacks crossvein 1r-rs, and thus it is segregated into a new family, Syspastoxyelidae Engel and Huang, fam. nov. The phylogenetic affinities of the new family are discussed and a position near Pamphilioidea or Pamphilioidea + Unicalcarida is advocated.

Multiple variations of the renal and testicular vessels: possible embryological basis and clinical importance

During routine dissection of the abdominal cavity of a 55-year-old African male cadaver, multiple anomalies including renal and testicular vessels were encountered. The right kidney was supplied by three right hilar renal arteries arising from the abdominal aorta at different vertebral levels whereas only one left renal artery supplied the left kidney. On the right three renal veins drained the kidney into the inferior vena cava. In contrast, the left kidney was drained by a single renal vein which received a large primary posterior tributary. The primary posterior tributary had three tributaries from the posterior lumbar region. The right testis had two sources of arterial supply; one from the subcostal artery and another from the abdominal aorta. The left testis was supplied normally by a single testicular artery. The right testis was drained by four testicular veins as follows: one drained into the subcostal vein, the other two drained separately for a longer course and joined shortly before draining into the right main renal vein, the fourth one drained into the anterior aspect of the inferior vena cava at the level of the second lumbar vertebra. On the left, the testicle was drained by two testicular veins which travelled separately from the deep inguinal ring and joined shortly before they drain into the left renal vein. This variation may represent an immature form of complicated development of kidneys and testes. Additionally, emphasis must be put on preoperative vascular examination to avoid surgical complications from variant vessels in this region.

The Spiral Organ Responsible for Producing Sound Signals, an Essential Taxonomic Character in the Phylogenetic Analysis of the GenusHamadryas(Nymphalidae: Biblidinae): The Case ofHamadryas chloe chloe(Stoll) [1787] from South America

Dissections and scientific illustrations were done of the spiral organ located in the forewing subcostal vein ofH. chloe, which was compared with otherHamadryasspecies that produce audible sound signals. Important differences were found; for example, inH. chloe, this organ is split into many independent pieces called membrane discs, whereas in the others species, it consists of just a single spiral. Implications for systematic analysis are discussed, with support from observations on ecology, chorology, and male genitalia.

Formation of the Azygos Vein

SUMMARY: The aim of the present study was to determine the most common origin of the azygos vein. Thirty cadavers maleand female, white and non-white adult individuals of different ages fixed in 10% formaldehyde and dissected. All cadavers had anundisclosed clinical death and were donated to the Universidade Estadual de Ci encias da Saude de Alagoa s, Brazil. Eleven differentformations were found. The right subcostal vein was was only observed in 13 cases (43.33%); the azygos vein was formed by theconfluence of the right subcostal and right ascending lumbar vein in three cases (10%); by the right subcostal vein with a cont ributionfrom the inferior vena cava (IVC) in three cases (10%); by the right subcostal with contribution from IVC and right ascending l umbarvein in three cases (10%); by the right and left subcostal veins in two cases (6.66%); by the right and left subcostal veins andcontribution from the IVC in one case (3.33%); by the right and left subcostal veins and left accessory renal vein in one case (3.33%);by the left renal vein in one case (3.33%); by the right subcostal and left gonadal veins with contribution from the IVC in one case(3.33%); by the right subcostal and left renal veins in one case (3.33%); and composed by the continuation of the 11th posteriorintercostal vein in one case (3.33%). Based on the results, the right subcostal vein was the only structure with a significant presence inthe formation of the azygos vein.

A revised interpretation of the wing base structure in Odonata

AbstractHomology of the wing base structure in the Odonata is highly controversial, and many different interpretations of homology have been proposed. In extreme cases, two independent origins of insect wings have been suggested, based on comparative morphology between the odonate and other pterygote wing bases. Difficulties in establishing homology of the wing base structures between Odonata and other Pterygota result mainly from their extreme differences in morphology and function. In the present paper, we establish homology of the wing base structures between Neoptera, Ephemeroptera and Odonata using highly conservative and unambiguously identifiable characters (the basal wing hinge and subcostal veins) as principal landmarks. Homology of the odonate wing base structure with those of Ephemeroptera and Neoptera can be identified reliably. Based on this interpretation, the ancestral condition of the insect wing base structure is discussed.

Neuroethology of ultrasonic hearing in nocturnal butterflies (Hedyloidea)

Nocturnal Hedyloidea butterflies possess ultrasound-sensitive ears that mediate evasive flight maneuvers. Tympanal ear morphology, auditory physiology and behavioural responses to ultrasound are described for Macrosoma heliconiaria, and evidence for hearing is described for eight other hedylid species. The ear is formed by modifications of the cubital and subcostal veins at the forewing base, where the thin (1-3 microm), ovoid (520 x 220 microm) tympanal membrane occurs in a cavity. The ear is innervated by nerve IIN1c, with three chordotonal organs attaching to separate regions of the tympanal membrane. Extracellular recordings from IIN1c reveal sensory responses to ultrasonic (>20 kHz), but not low frequency (<10 kHz) sounds. Hearing is broadly tuned to frequencies between 40 and 80 kHz, with best thresholds around 60 dB SPL. Free flying butterflies exposed to ultrasound exhibit a variety of evasive maneuvers, characterized by sudden and unpredictable changes in direction, increased velocity, and durations of approximately 500 ms. Hedylid hearing is compared to that of several other insects that have independently evolved ears for the same purpose-bat detection. Hedylid hearing may also represent an interesting example of evolutionary divergence, since we demonstrate that the ears are homologous to low frequency ears in some diurnal Nymphalidae butterflies.

Long term monitoring of urban subsidence by Permanent Scatterer DInSAR

Abstract A new dragonfly of family Meganeuridae Shenzhousia qilianshanensis ge. et sp. nov., discovered from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in North China, is described in the present paper. It has an estimated wingspan of about 450–500 mm and may be the largest fossil insect in Late Carboniferous Namurian Stage discovered by far. The new species is referred to Meganeuridae because of the presence of the characteristic oblique vein between anterior branch of radius (RA) and posterior branch of radius (RP) near the base of RP2. It differs from other genera within the family in the following characteristics: Precostal area short and not extending to the midwing; posterior branch of subcostal vein short, merging into costal vein near the level of originating point of IR2; RP forking earlier than anterior branch of media basally; RP1+2 and RP3+4 parallel and close to each other for a long distance, and then diverge gradually surpass midwing. * Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No...

A new extraordinary neuropterid family from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil: a new insect order? (Insecta, Neuropterida)

A new, highly specialized family, Rafaelidae, is proposed for two new lacewing-like species from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation in the Araripe Basin, Brazil. They have body and wing venation characters that are unique within the neuropterid insects, i.e., head, ovipositor, organization of the radial and median veins and structure of the subcostal vein. This new family cannot be attributed to any known insect order with certainty. These discoveries support the hypothesis of a considerable morphological disparity between neuropterid insects during the Early Cretaceous, as for the Odonatoptera.

Unusual drainage of the testicular veins

An unusual drainage of the testicular veins was found during routine cadaveric dissection. Specifically, the lateral division of each testicular vein on both left and right sides was found to drain into the subcostal veins. No other anomalies of the veins of the abdomen were found. Knowledge of the many anomalies that can potentially occur in the abdominal region is necessary in interpretation of images of this anatomical area. Additionally, knowledge of these variations is important surgically; for example, anomalous veins that ought to be ligated during surgery for varicocele go unnoticed and result in recurrence of the varicocele.