ISSN:
1432-136X
Keywords:
Key words Gravity
;
Blood flow
;
Snakes
;
Cardiovascular system
;
Carotid artery
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Blood pressure and blood flow patterns were recorded from the carotid artery and aortae of a thick-bodied terrestrial snake (Crotalus adamanteus) and a thin-bodied arboreal species (Ahaetulla nasuta) anesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride. Hemodynamic stress induced by rotation resulted in pronounced changes in the blood flow patterns and pressure in C. adamanteus: rotation of A. nasuta produced changes of a similar type, but of a much lower magnitude. The markedly different responses of these two species, the baroreceptor reflexes of which were disrupted, suggest that morphological factors – such as differential gross cardiac displacement, or variation in the interaortic foramen – in addition to physiological factors, are important in determining a snake's ability to withstand hemodynamic stress.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s003600050100
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