Twilight Sparkle's Notes on Changeling Anatomy (SFW, get your minds out of the gutter) · 4:41am Apr 7th, 2017
Context: In the chapter I am currently writing, a set of notes submitted to the Canterlot Royal Library of Medical Research by Twilight Sparkle come into play. This post is not required to understand the chapter, but it is a reference and a bit of... I guess you can say it's an easter egg for people who pay attention?
A great deal of this is just off the top of my head from my own knowledge of insect and arachnid anatomy -- one of my hobbies has been entomology and arachnology, but it is still just that, a hobby. If you should find any inconsistencies or factual errors, please bear in mind that we are talking about fictional insectoid equines who consume love and can speak. Just enjoy it for what it is.
The image below is courtesy of KP-ShadowSquirrel on Deviantart. I like to personally imagine that they are sketches done by Twilight as she observed Echo's behavior during various situations and conversations. Regardless, please go and show the creator some love, okay?
Also, full disclosure, both the chapter that I am writing and this "research paper" are written under the significant influence of alcohol, so... yep. Ideally, I should have the chapter out before the end of the night... but the alcohol may persuade me to go to bed first. Remains to be seen.
Basic Changeling Anatomy and Physiology
Volume One, Edition One
Twilight Sparkle
Abstract
This paper explores and defines the basics of changeling anatomy and physiology as it is currently understood and with particular emphasis on the relevance to medical care. It is based on first-hoof research conducted by me with the aid of my research subject, who shall herein remain nameless for her privacy. The topics covered in this first volume will include the basics of: external anatomy; circulatory system; and remodeling responses.
Basic Changeling Anatomy and Physiology
Twilight Sparkle
To date, no in-depth studies have been centered around the anatomy and physiology of the changeling species. This circumstance presents an unfortunate situation for medical science in that if a changeling were to be in need of medical attention, but unable to guide his or her attending physicians in that treatment, then the treatment in question would be subject to amounts of guesswork that are unacceptable.
Many notions that ponies have about changelings are incorrect. For example, the notion that the only thing changelings require to live is love energy; a changeling requires love energy in order to maintain sapience, but can survive at a basal level on physical nutrition. In that respect, their dietary needs differ little from our own. It is factually incorrect to insinuate that a changeling requires love to survive, but de facto accurate when one considers that the loss of sapience is unacceptable, as it effectively results in the death of the individual.
Love and other emotional energies are absorbed primarily through a passive magical drain, though it is noted that the voluntary cessation of this passive function is possible in much the same way that ponies can halt their breathing. It remains an autonomic function under most circumstances but can be overridden temporarily.
External Anatomy
The area of a changeling's exterior anatomy analogous to a pony's skin is composed of a chitinous substance that is virtually indistinguishable in its makeup from the chitin of insects in the family Scarabaeidae. It is notworthy, however, to mention that its hardness is roughly the same as tooth enamel, coming in at approximately a five on the Mohs scale. It does not exhibit the characteristic brittleness of tooth enamel, however, showing a great deal more flexibility and plasticity, reminiscent of keratinious plates such as reptile scales. The subject reports that under extreme stress, changeling chitin can shatter, however.
In a few locations, the chitin that covers the external anatomy of the changeling thins and softens to the degree of being membranous. This is noteworthy in no small part due to the fact that these locations will provide the only viable sites for IV incisions. It is noteworthy however that a changeling in his or her natural form actually lacks veins and arteries, and that IV needles would as such be much quicker to deploy, misnomer notwithstanding. Infusion of fluids or medicine directly to the hemolymph is most recommended. (See Circulatory System) The most viable of these spots can be found: on the superior aspect of the cranium, directly posterior to the ears, and at both axillary and inguinal joints. Additional occurrences of these spots include the analogous location of the anterior of the hyoid bone, as well as any of the first, second, third, or fourth axillaries of the wings.
Circulatory System
The heart of a changeling is in a perfectly analogous location to the heart of a pony, but is protected by exceptionally hardened chitin. Unfortunately at this point the physical differences between changeling and pony hearts are difficult to ascertain, as there is no way to observe the subject's heart without performing an invasive surgery on her.
A changeling in his or her true form lacks blood. Analogous to blood is hemolymph, presenting unusual challenges to medical personnel. Aside from the beneficial ease with which fluids can be infused, there is a significant problem to overcome in treating trauma. The majority of a changeling's natural form lacks vessels as we understand them, and so bleeding can only be truly stopped through either natural healing or patching of chitinous structures through magical means. It can, however, be slowed with an absorbent bandage applied with high pressure.
Remodeling Responses
Owing to the fact that chitin is a keratinous substance, natural remodeling of any fractures in the chitin is extremely slow, often only achieved by a full molt. It is of the utmost importance in treatment of trauma, therefore, that a graft or patch be applied to areas of broken chitin, and that magic be used to seal the wounds as soon as possible. Infection is not as severe a risk in changelings, as their wounds bleed profusely and are therefore effectively self-cleaning. However, this is not the case if proper care is not taken. Leading up to the procedure to repair the damage, care must be taken that the bandages used in the interim are changed frequently or the wound will stagnate and the risk of infection increases exponentially.
End Volume One
Nice man!
Very neat, and I love reading these kinda things!
I love these little tidbits where more of the world is exposed, even on such a small-ish scale as this
heh, bet you wish wisdom teeth had a great deal more flexibility and plasticity
4487711 Actually I just wish they didn't fucking exist at all. Being harder and less brittle would have actually made the surgery to get them out even worse.
4487884
good point. I remember getting mine pulled - remember to take the antibiotics and keep your mouth clean! I took two extra courses of antibiotics due to infection despite following doctors orders.
welcome back btw! enjoyed this easter egg of a chapter!
4488221 Had a post-op checkup a day ago and got a clean bill of health so far. Still some healing yet to do, but no signs of infection and the pain is minimal.