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Figures
- Fig. 1.
The position of the oil gland in the swordfish head. The main picture is a sagittal MRI section approximately through the median plane. (The drawing in the lower left-hand corner gives the exact position as seen from the dorsal side, with eyes indicated by curved dashed lines.) The contour of the oil-producing gland is outlined in black. Two scans of cross-sections at positions indicated by the dashed lines show the anterior central part of the gland in the left cross-section and the two lateral lobes close to the eyes in the right cross-section. ‘Drem’ indicates the position of the heat-producing dorsal rectus eye muscle. The sagittal section is number 13 in Fig. S1. The anterior cross-section is number 9 in Fig. S2A and the posterior cross-section is number 21 in Fig. S2B.
- Fig. 2.
The capillary network on the swordfish head. (A) MRI scan of the outermost sagittal section of the head. The arrow points to a fragment of the extended capillary network in the skin of the head just behind the eye. (B) A reconstruction based on careful dissection of the skin of the main afferent vessels of the capillary network originating from the oil gland. (C) Part of the skin of the operculum in back illumination, revealing the density of the network. (D) Detail of the network showing the pores connecting the vessels with the external environment.
- Fig. 3.
Pores in the capillary network on the swordfish head. (A) Detail of a single pore. The pore diameter is ∼0.1 mm and it is surrounded by seven denticles. (B) The inset shows a surface area of 1 mm2 around the pore. The sample was taken from the skin between the eyes.
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