| Unidirectional airflow in the lungs of alligators. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20075253 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The lungs of birds move air in only one direction during both inspiration and expiration through most of the tubular gas-exchanging bronchi (parabronchi), whereas in the lungs of mammals and presumably other vertebrates, air moves tidally into and out of terminal gas-exchange structures, which are cul-de-sacs. Unidirectional flow purportedly depends on bellowslike ventilation by air sacs and may have evolved to meet the high aerobic demands of sustained flight. Here, we show that air flows unidirectionally through parabronchi in the lungs of the American alligator, an amphibious ectotherm without air sacs, which suggests that this pattern dates back to the basal archosaurs of the Triassic and may have been present in their nondinosaur descendants (phytosaurs, aetosaurs, rauisuchians, crocodylomorphs, and pterosaurs) as well as in dinosaurs. |
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Authors:
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C G Farmer; Kent Sanders |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Science (New York, N.Y.) Volume: 327 ISSN: 1095-9203 ISO Abbreviation: Science Publication Date: 2010 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-01-15 Completed Date: 2010-02-01 Revised Date: 2010-04-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0404511 Medline TA: Science Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 338-40 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. cg.frmr@gmail.com |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Alligators and Crocodiles
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anatomy & histology,
physiology* Animals Bronchi / anatomy & histology, physiology* Dinosaurs / physiology Evolution Lung / anatomy & histology, physiology* Pulmonary Ventilation* Respiration |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
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Nature. 2010 Apr 15;464(7291):961
[PMID:
20393521
]
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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