Lecture 10 Flashcards
Supplying energy requires sustained aerobic metabolism, which achieved by what?
. A highly efficient respiratory system, coupled to a
. Powerful heart and circulatory system
Temperature regulation in birds is important. How is it done?
Adequate cooling to remove heat from physical activity of flight coupled with adequate insulation to maintain body temperature, and good water economy
What are the two main requirements for evolution of early reptiles to birds?
. Increased aerobic metabolism and ability to deliver
. Insulation required for endothermy
In flight, small birds can sustain how many times BMR for many hours. How does this contrast to other small mammals?
10-25timss BMR contrast to small mammals which can sustain an activity level only 5-6times BMR
Unlike mammals, birds function well at high altitudes. What is this a result of?
A result from an efficient respiratory system
What is the most Energetically expensive more of flight?
Hovering with an oxygen requirement 2.5 times of forward flapping flight
Describe the respiratory system in birds (in detail) and how is this shown experimentally?
They have two lungs connected to the outside via trachea, and connected to thin walled air sacs that fill the chest and the abdominal cavity. Air sacs are connected to the air spaces in bones; shown experimentally that birds with a blocked windpipe can still breath, provided there is a connection between a bone and air
Birds have no diaphragm, so what do they do instead? How does this work?
Breathe by raising and lowering the sternum- this enlarges the chest cavity and expands the air sacs
What does the parabronchi consist of?
Trachea- primary bronchi- secondary bronchi- tertiary bronchi
Explain the air flow in the avian system
Bronchi to posterior air sacs to parabronchi and then back to air sacs
Describe the air sacs in birds
. Thin walled (1-2 cell layers thick)
. Extend throughout the body into the bone cavities
. Poorly supplied with blood vessels
. No direct function in gas exchange
. Act as bellows to help pump air through the lungs
The number of air sacs may vary between species but how many do most have?
9
The number of air sacs in some species is 9, but this may vary, where are these air sacs?
. Paired cervical air sacs in the neck- in frigate birds these are used for display- large inflatable red sacs
. Paired anterior thoracic sacs- forepart of body cavity
. Paired posterior thoracic sacs- upper chest
. Paired abdominal sacs- cushion the abdominal organs and carry air to the legs and pelvic bone
. Single interclavicular air sac- branches penetrate the wing bones, sternum and syrinx- pressure in syrinx from the interclavicular air sac is essential for sound production
The pattern of air flow is a 2-cycle process. Explain this process
. Inhalation 1: air enters and posterior (abdominal) sac via trachea
. Exhalation 1: air moves from abdominal sac through parabronchi into the lungs
. Inhalation 2: air enters the thoracic air sacs
. Exhalation 2: air is forced out through the trachea
Flow of air in through the lung in birds is unidirectional. What does this mean?
Air flows continually in the same direction during both inhalation and exhalation
What is ‘inspirational valving’?
Local swellings of contractions of the air conduits which direct the flow of air
What is the unidirectional flow of air through the lungs of birds controlled by/ not controlled by?
Not maintained by mechanical values but by ‘inspirational valving’ (local swellings or contractions of the air conduits which direct the flow of air)
Birds have relatively smaller lungs per unit body mass than non-flying mammals. How does this work?
Lung rigidity allows a higher respiratory surface area through intense partitioning of the parenchymal tissue. Much greater tissue density than an equivalent mammalian lung
Describe avian lungs in two points
. Compact
. Not inflatable
Terminal gas- exchange components are what?
Air capillaries (blind ending tubules)
Describe air capillaries
Blind ending tubules
How does the air flow in parabronchi?
Unidirectional
How does the Surface density of the blood-gas (tissue) barrier differ between avian and mammal lungs?
It is substantially greater in the avian lung than in the lung of mammals
Where is there cross-current flow in avians?
. Cross-current with respect to flow of air in relation to blood flow through arteriolar at the gas-exchange surfaces
Where is there counter-current flow in avians?
Counter current with respect to flow of blood and air through the lungs
What is the efficiency of avian lungs due to?
. Continuous unidirectional
. High gas exchange surface area per unit volume
. Cross-current and counter current air/blood flows through lung
. Thin gas-exchange barrier
What are the two types of parabronchi?
. Paleopulmonic parabronchi- unidirectional flow (more basic birds)
. Neopulmonic parabronchi- bidirectional flow (c. 20% in some passerines)
What is the evidence for basic avian pulmonary design and flow through ventilation in non-avian Theropod dinosaurs?
. Cervical and abdominal air-sax systems with bone pneumatisation
. Thoracic skeletal prerequisites of avian-style aspiration pump
. Specialisations imply the existence of the basic avian pulmonary body plan in basal neotheropods
. Flow through ventilation of the lung probably a general Theropod characteristic
What is the output of an avian heart and how much goes where? (Compared other parts to how much goes to the legs and explain why there is a difference)
10-20% goes to the legs and the brain. Legs get 3 times the (direct) output of the pectoral muscles, and twice of the brain: mainly for purposes of heat dissipation
Describe an avian heart, compare it to a mammalian heart and why there is a difference
Double circulatory system, 4-chambered heart (unlike reptiles). 50-100% larger and more powerful than for a mammal of equivalent size; larger stroke volume than mammalian hearts; ventricles empty more completely; heart generates higher blood pressure. Heart had to sustain high levels of activity for long periods, deliver fuel and remove toxic waste products