... fibres. On the basis of these studies, the idea of a lamellar unit of structure, consisting of muscle–elastin–collagen, was formulated for mammals (Wolinsky and Glagov, 1964). In a refinement of this model based on scanning electron microscopy of fracture surfaces of pressure-fixed aortas, Clark...

..., both the structure and the mechanical behaviour of the lamellar units in the aortic arch and aorta of the whale have presumably been modified to produce the unusual mechanical and haemodynamic properties of the whale circulation. Fig. 2. Comparison of geometric taper (A) and elastic taper (B...