We describe an unusual case of self-amputation of a transanal prolapsed colorectal segment by a 48-year-old mentally impaired woman. The surgical procedure and favourable outcome are reported.
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Biol Lett
May 2024
Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University, St John's (Newfoundland and Labrador), Canada.
Autotomy refers to self-amputation where the loss of a limb or organ is generally said to be (1) in response to stressful external stimuli; (2) voluntary and nervously mediated; (3) supported by adaptive features that increase efficiency and simultaneously mediate the cost; and (4) morphologically delineated by a predictable breakage plane. It is estimated that this phenomenon has evolved independently nine different times across the animal kingdom, appearing in many different taxa, including vertebrate and invertebrate as well as aquatic and terrestrial animals. Marine invertebrates use this behaviour in a diversity of manners that have yet to be globally reviewed and critically examined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMB Rep
May 2022
Department of Biological Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Korea.
It is well-known that some species of lizard have an exceptional ability known as caudal autotomy (voluntary self-amputation of the tail) as an anti-predation mechanism. After amputation occurs, they can regenerate their new tails in a few days. The new tail section is generally shorter than the original one and is composed of cartilage rather than vertebrae bone.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol
January 2012
Rhodes College, Biology Department, 2000 North Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112, USA.
Caudal autotomy, or voluntary self-amputation of the tail, is a common and effective predator evasion mechanism used by most lizard species. The tail contributes to a multitude of biological functions such as locomotion, energetics, and social interactions, and thus there are often costs associated with autotomy. Notably, relatively little is known regarding bioenergetic costs of caudal autotomy in lizards, though key morphological differences exist between the original and regenerated tail that could alter the biochemistry and energetics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChir Ital
April 2010
Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale, Clinica Chirurgica, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia.
We describe an unusual case of self-amputation of a transanal prolapsed colorectal segment by a 48-year-old mentally impaired woman. The surgical procedure and favourable outcome are reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Exp Zool A Comp Exp Biol
December 2006
Department of Biology and Program in Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837, USA.
Caudal autotomy, or the voluntary self-amputation of the tail, is an anti-predation strategy in lizards that depends on a complex array of environmental, individual, and species-specific characteristics. These factors affect both when and how often caudal autotomy is employed, as well as its overall rate of success. The potential costs of autotomy must be weighed against the benefits of this strategy.
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