Dinosaur vascular anatomy & thermal physiology

3D Model

Recent research by Porter & Witmer (2019: http://bit.ly/2AWXMKS) has shown that different dinosaur groups had different thermal physiological strategies to help moderate brain temperatures in the face of high heat loads. Evaporatively cooled blood in different sites of heat exchange was shuttled to the brain region to help moderate brain temperatures. This 3D model generated by Ryan Ridgely replicates the content of Figure 1 of Porter & Witmer (2019). Small-bodied dinosaurs like Stegoceras had a balanced pattern of blood supply with no particular emphasis on any one site of heat exchange whereas larger-bodied dinosaurs had a more focused thermal strategy, emphasizing blood flow to the nasal region (Euoplocephalus), oral & nasal regions (Camarasaurus), or the antorbital air sinus (Majungasaurus). Development of focused thermal strategies is associated with the evolution of large body sizes. See WitmerLab Project Page with more information: http://bit.ly/2p5ybwB.