Comparative and functional morphology of male external genital organs in Muroidea rodents

概要

Background
Many comparative morphological studies have been conducted on the penis; male external genital
organs, and baculum; bone of the penis in rodents. Muroidea rodents have medial and lateral bacular
mounds in the distal penis, and some species have ossified cartilage. Distal structures of the penis,
such as medial and lateral bacular mounds, have been compared among species as taxonomically
important traits, but their functional morphology has rarely been discussed. In this dissertation, I aimed
to clarify the morphological and functional diversity of the male external genital organs, especially the
distal structure of the penis, between Muridae and Cricetidae, using histological methods and threedimensional (3D) models. ...