Birds Flashcards
Temperature Regulation of Birds
○ Core body temps 39-42℃ (102-107.6℉) indicate HIGH metabolic rate
○ Low tolerance for low temps; significant effect of hypothermia
Functions of the Avian Respiratory System
○ Gaseous exchange
○ Vocalization
○ Thermoregulation
Main Features of Avian Respiratory System
Small lungs that undergo little change in volume when breathing
Air sacs DO not participate to gas exchange
What are the two main components of the avian pulmonary system?
Separate, distinct components
One for ventilation, one for GE
Tracheal Variations btw Species of Birds
1.Inflatable sac-like diverticulum
2. Double trachea (penguins, petrels)
3. Complex tracheal loops or coils within caudal neck in keep or within thorax/keel
–Fxn: large booming calls with low driving pressures
Larynx in Birds
○ Tracheal opening located at the base of the tongue
○ No epiglottis → easy visualization when tongue is gently pulled forward
Exception: Flamingo due to ventroflexion beak, large fleshy tongue
Trachea in Birds
Complete cartilaginous rings
Connects nares and mouth to the bronchi
Functions: warming, moisturizing, and screening particulate matter from inspired gas
Difference in trachea in between species:
Effect of Different Tracheal Anatomies in Birds?
Significant increase in tracheal dead space
Typical avian trachea vs trachea of comparably sized mammals 2.7 times longer BUT 1.29 times wider
= tracheal resistance to gas flow comparable
● Tracheal dead space volume in birds is ~ 4.5 times larger than that of comparably sized mammals, BUT relatively low respiratory frequency + larger tidal volume of birds decreases effect of larger tracheal dead space volume
● Avian minute tracheal ventilation = 1.5-1.9 times that of mammals
Syrinx
● Sound-producing organ
○ At junction of trachea and mainstem bronchi
○ Intubated birds can produce sounds, especially during PPV
Bronchi in Birds
3 orders of bronchial branching before gas exchange tissue reached
1. Primary bronchus (extra- and intrapulmonary)
2. Secondary bronchi
3. Tertiary bronchi or parabronchi
Role of Parabronchi, Surrounding Mantle of Tissue
Parabronchi, surrounding mantle of tissue (parabronchial mantle) = where gas exchange occurs, air capillaries within walls
Serve to connect ventrobronchi to dorsobronchi, laterobronchi
Primary Bronchi
–Enters junction of cranial, middle thirds of lung
–Gives rise to abdominal air sac, secondary bronchi
–Low columnar pseudostratified epithelium + well-developed internal circular smooth muscle layer + longitudinally oriented smooth muscles → contraction changes internal diameter
Movement of air only, no GE
Secondary Bronchi
–Arise from primary bronchus, same histology
–Arranged in four groups:
1. medioventral**
2. mediodorsal
3. lateroventral**
4. laterodorsal
Medioventral: gives rise to cranial air sacs
Lateroventral: gives rise of caudal thoracic air sacs
Air Sacs in Birds
9 Total
Arise from medioventral secondary bronchi: clavicular (1), cervical (2), cranial thoracic (2)
Arise from lateroventral secondary bronchi: caudal thoracic (2)
Arise from intrapulmonary bronchus (ie continuation of primary bronchus): abdominal (2)
How Group Air Sacs
-Cranial = cervical, clavicular, cranial thoracic
-Caudal = caudal thoracic, abdominal
Volume equally distributed btw cranial, caudal groups
Air Sac Structure and Function
Thin-walled structures composed of simple squamous epithelium, vessel poor
● Air sac do not contribute to gas exchange
Function: provide tidal flow of air to the relatively rigid avian lung [avian lung changes in volume by only 1.6%]
Air Sac Role During Movement of Gases
only volume-compliant structures in body cavity
inspiration → negative pressure within air sac →air flows from atmosphere into pulmonary system (air sacs + gas exchange surface areas of the lungs)
expiration → positive pressure within air sac →air flows from pulmonary system, air sacs to atmosphere
IInspiration in Birds
Contraction of Abdominal M
Elevation of Keel
Internal vol, thoracolumbar cavity increase
Negative intracoelomic pressure - air enters
BOTH INSPIRATION, EXPIRATION ACTIVE IN BIRDS
Intubation in Birds
can be difficult in small birds
Glottis can be difficult to visualize
Commercially available endotracheal tube manufactured for small birds do not exist
UNCUFFED TUBES
Use of IVC To Intubate Birds
do not possess same degree of flexibility, thermoplasticity of a commercially available ET tube
Can cause tracheal trauma (abrasion or puncture)
Must be of appropriate circumference: it needs to allow some degree of gas leak between tracheal wall and the catheter to avoid air sacs volutrauma or lung barotrauma
Bird Intubation: tube occlusion
Why:
–Small ETT diameter
-_Cold, dry FGF makes mucus thicker, more tenacious
Detection of Tube Obstruction in Birds
–Prolonged expiratory phase
–Gurgling on auscultation
Management of Airway Obstruction in Birds
● Extubating patient, cleaning tube, re-intubating, or by replacing with clean one
● Anticholinergic IM (atropine, 0.04 mg/kg, or glycopyrrolate 0.01 mg/kg) to reduce mucus production
Endotracheal Intubation and Risks in Birds
Because of complete cartilaginous tracheal rings, overly inflated cuff will injure tracheal mucosa or rupture tracheal rings
● Avian tracheal rings tend to rupture longitudinally
Larger birds (ostriches, emus) will need larger tubes: 10-18, 9-14
Ventilation in Emus
Tracheal cleft in emus does not complicate intubation, may make PPV difficult: can be overcome by placing snug wrap around distal third of neck
Body Position and Muscle Relaxation in Birds
body position may adversely affect ventilation (depending on species)
■ DORSAL RECUMBENCY IN CHICKEN (large breast muscles)
Weight of abdominal viscera →compress abdominal air sacs →reduced tidal volume
Anaesthesia causes myorelaxation → difficult to generate sufficient muscular effort to lift keel against gravity (in particular in birds with large heavy pectoral muscles) → reduced tidal volume
Sternal Recumbency in Birds
Sternal recumbency appears to be detrimental
How Manage Ventilation Challenges in Birds
Maintain light plane of anesthesia
Role of the Parabronchi
Increase total gas exchange, surface area
Basic unit for gas exchange: = Tertiary bronchus (parabronchus) + surrounding tissue (air capillaries + blood vessel)
Long, narrow tubes that anastomose profusely
■ Entrances guarded by smooth muscles
Tubular Parabronchi Subunits
- Atria
- Infundibula
Atria
opens into chambers, separated from one another via interatrial septa
–Bundle of SmM at opening, allow for SNS/PSNS control of air flow through parabronchi
Infundibula
funnel shaped duct arising from floor of atria, leads to air capillaries/meshwork with blood capillaries = site of GE
Infundibula
LaPlace’s Law and Avian Lungs
High surface tensions = air capillaries of small diameter → generate significant negative pressure across blood-gas barrier
■ This could lead to influx of fluid or collapsed tubules
Air, blood capillaries possess structural elements that preserve anatomy/gas exchange
What are the two types of parabronchial tissue?
- Paleo-pulmonic
- Neo-pulmonic
Paleo-pulmonic Parabronchial Tissue
found in all birds, consisting of parallel stacks of profusely anastomosing parabronchi
○ Unidirectional Gas Flow (aerodynamic valves)
Neopulmonic Parabronchial Tissue
meshwork of anastomosing parabronchi located in caudolateral portion of the lung; its degree of development = species-dependent
○ Bidirectional Gas Flow
What species only have paleopulmonic tissue?
Emus, penguins
Which species have 10-12% neopulmonic tissue?
Storks, swans, ducks, geese
Which species have 20-25% neopulmonic parabronchi?
Chickens, sparrows, other song birds