Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving

Abstract The hearts and ascending aortae of 11 Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddelli , three adult Crabeater seals, Lobodon carcinophagus , two adult Ross seals, Ommatophoca rossi , and one adult Leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx , were examined for comparison with terrestrial forms. The Weddell seal...

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Published in:Journal of Morphology
Main Author: Drabek, Charles M.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1975
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051450106
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spelling crwiley:10.1002/jmor.1051450106 2024-06-23T07:46:37+00:00 Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving Drabek, Charles M. 1975 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051450106 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjmor.1051450106 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmor.1051450106 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Journal of Morphology volume 145, issue 1, page 85-105 ISSN 0362-2525 1097-4687 journal-article 1975 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051450106 2024-06-06T04:19:53Z Abstract The hearts and ascending aortae of 11 Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddelli , three adult Crabeater seals, Lobodon carcinophagus , two adult Ross seals, Ommatophoca rossi , and one adult Leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx , were examined for comparison with terrestrial forms. The Weddell seal specimens were from animals ranging in age from midterm in fetal development to mature adults. All specimens were collected in 1971, 1972, and 1973, from McMurdo Sound and the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The phocid hearts were characteristically broader and flatter than those of other carnivore families and they tended toward bifid apices. The heart form indices (height/circumference) averaged 31.5 compared to 39.0 for felids. The right ventricular chambers of the Antarctic seals were found to average longer in Weddells and narrower in all, than those reported for four other carnivore families. An elastic enlargement was present in the ascending aortae of all seals. The largest diameter of the aortic bulb averaged 25.5 mm more than the base of the aorta in the adult Weddell seals which represented an increase of 72.5% over the base. It is suggested that the general heart form, and especially the ascending aortae, are anatomical adaptations to diving. The compressed heart makes possible unimpaired function when the chest is compressed during deep dives. The aortic bulb maintains mean arterial blood pressure and perfusion of the brain and cardiac tissue during diving bradycardia. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Crabeater Seals Hydrurga leptonyx Leopard Seal Leptonychotes weddelli Lobodon carcinophagus McMurdo Sound Ommatophoca rossi Ross Sea Weddell Seal Weddell Seals Wiley Online Library Antarctic Hydrurga ENVELOPE(-61.626,-61.626,-64.145,-64.145) McMurdo Sound Ross Sea The Antarctic Weddell Journal of Morphology 145 1 85 105
institution Open Polar
collection Wiley Online Library
op_collection_id crwiley
language English
description Abstract The hearts and ascending aortae of 11 Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddelli , three adult Crabeater seals, Lobodon carcinophagus , two adult Ross seals, Ommatophoca rossi , and one adult Leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx , were examined for comparison with terrestrial forms. The Weddell seal specimens were from animals ranging in age from midterm in fetal development to mature adults. All specimens were collected in 1971, 1972, and 1973, from McMurdo Sound and the Ross Sea, Antarctica. The phocid hearts were characteristically broader and flatter than those of other carnivore families and they tended toward bifid apices. The heart form indices (height/circumference) averaged 31.5 compared to 39.0 for felids. The right ventricular chambers of the Antarctic seals were found to average longer in Weddells and narrower in all, than those reported for four other carnivore families. An elastic enlargement was present in the ascending aortae of all seals. The largest diameter of the aortic bulb averaged 25.5 mm more than the base of the aorta in the adult Weddell seals which represented an increase of 72.5% over the base. It is suggested that the general heart form, and especially the ascending aortae, are anatomical adaptations to diving. The compressed heart makes possible unimpaired function when the chest is compressed during deep dives. The aortic bulb maintains mean arterial blood pressure and perfusion of the brain and cardiac tissue during diving bradycardia.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Drabek, Charles M.
spellingShingle Drabek, Charles M.
Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving
author_facet Drabek, Charles M.
author_sort Drabek, Charles M.
title Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving
title_short Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving
title_full Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving
title_fullStr Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving
title_full_unstemmed Some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving
title_sort some anatomical aspects of the cardiovascular system of antarctic seals and their possible functional significance in diving
publisher Wiley
publishDate 1975
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051450106
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjmor.1051450106
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmor.1051450106
long_lat ENVELOPE(-61.626,-61.626,-64.145,-64.145)
geographic Antarctic
Hydrurga
McMurdo Sound
Ross Sea
The Antarctic
Weddell
geographic_facet Antarctic
Hydrurga
McMurdo Sound
Ross Sea
The Antarctic
Weddell
genre Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctica
Crabeater Seals
Hydrurga leptonyx
Leopard Seal
Leptonychotes weddelli
Lobodon carcinophagus
McMurdo Sound
Ommatophoca rossi
Ross Sea
Weddell Seal
Weddell Seals
genre_facet Antarc*
Antarctic
Antarctica
Crabeater Seals
Hydrurga leptonyx
Leopard Seal
Leptonychotes weddelli
Lobodon carcinophagus
McMurdo Sound
Ommatophoca rossi
Ross Sea
Weddell Seal
Weddell Seals
op_source Journal of Morphology
volume 145, issue 1, page 85-105
ISSN 0362-2525 1097-4687
op_rights http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor
op_doi https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051450106
container_title Journal of Morphology
container_volume 145
container_issue 1
container_start_page 85
op_container_end_page 105
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