A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation

Abstract The myodural bridge (MDB) was described as a dense fibrous tissue connecting the suboccipital musculature with the spinal dura mater. Now, the concept of the MDB was perceived as an exact anatomical structure likely essential for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation. The MDB has been shown...

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Main Authors: Cheng Chen, Heng Yang, Yang Song, Yun-Li Dong, Jing Zhang, Muhammad Adeel Alam Shah, Tao Qin, Nan Zheng, Sheng-Bo Yu, Yu-Yu Xiong, Jian-Fei Zhang, Hong-Jin Sui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89599-5
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author Cheng Chen
Heng Yang
Yang Song
Yun-Li Dong
Jing Zhang
Muhammad Adeel Alam Shah
Tao Qin
Nan Zheng
Sheng-Bo Yu
Yu-Yu Xiong
Jian-Fei Zhang
Hong-Jin Sui
author_facet Cheng Chen
Heng Yang
Yang Song
Yun-Li Dong
Jing Zhang
Muhammad Adeel Alam Shah
Tao Qin
Nan Zheng
Sheng-Bo Yu
Yu-Yu Xiong
Jian-Fei Zhang
Hong-Jin Sui
author_sort Cheng Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The myodural bridge (MDB) was described as a dense fibrous tissue connecting the suboccipital musculature with the spinal dura mater. Now, the concept of the MDB was perceived as an exact anatomical structure likely essential for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation. The MDB has been shown to be universal across mammals, reptiles, and birds. To determine the existence of the MDB in other vertebrates on morphological study, representatives in amphibians and bony fishes were examined. It was found that the dense fibrous tissue connected the interarcuales muscle (IAR) and the spinal dura mater in the Xenopus laevis. In four examined fish species, somatic muscle fibers were directly anchored to the vertebral canal membrane. This observation led to the hypothesis that, during movement, these muscles may exert a pulling force on the membrane, generating negative pressure. It is speculated that this may serve as the driving force for CSF circulation. Thus, this connection suggests a functional similarity to the MDB observed in other vertebrate species. Based on this finding, the study proposes the MDB as a functionally analogous structure with a universal existence in amphibians and bony fishes.
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spelling doaj-art-57d400dfc7f3495181882d1e5c2c960d2025-08-20T02:48:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-89599-5A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulationCheng Chen0Heng Yang1Yang Song2Yun-Li Dong3Jing Zhang4Muhammad Adeel Alam Shah5Tao Qin6Nan Zheng7Sheng-Bo Yu8Yu-Yu Xiong9Jian-Fei Zhang10Hong-Jin Sui11Department of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University), Ministry of EducationDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityDepartment of Anatomy, College of Basic Medicine, Dalian Medical UniversityAbstract The myodural bridge (MDB) was described as a dense fibrous tissue connecting the suboccipital musculature with the spinal dura mater. Now, the concept of the MDB was perceived as an exact anatomical structure likely essential for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation. The MDB has been shown to be universal across mammals, reptiles, and birds. To determine the existence of the MDB in other vertebrates on morphological study, representatives in amphibians and bony fishes were examined. It was found that the dense fibrous tissue connected the interarcuales muscle (IAR) and the spinal dura mater in the Xenopus laevis. In four examined fish species, somatic muscle fibers were directly anchored to the vertebral canal membrane. This observation led to the hypothesis that, during movement, these muscles may exert a pulling force on the membrane, generating negative pressure. It is speculated that this may serve as the driving force for CSF circulation. Thus, this connection suggests a functional similarity to the MDB observed in other vertebrate species. Based on this finding, the study proposes the MDB as a functionally analogous structure with a universal existence in amphibians and bony fishes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89599-5Myodural bridgeCerebrospinal fluid circulationBony fishesAmphibians
spellingShingle Cheng Chen
Heng Yang
Yang Song
Yun-Li Dong
Jing Zhang
Muhammad Adeel Alam Shah
Tao Qin
Nan Zheng
Sheng-Bo Yu
Yu-Yu Xiong
Jian-Fei Zhang
Hong-Jin Sui
A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation
Scientific Reports
Myodural bridge
Cerebrospinal fluid circulation
Bony fishes
Amphibians
title A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation
title_full A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation
title_fullStr A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation
title_full_unstemmed A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation
title_short A new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians: an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation
title_sort new analogous organ in bony fishes and amphibians an anatomical structure related with the cerebrospinal fluid circulation
topic Myodural bridge
Cerebrospinal fluid circulation
Bony fishes
Amphibians
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89599-5
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