Anatomy & Physiology: Current Research
Open Access

Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, United States

Biography

Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, United States Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, United States Department of Anatomy, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, United States

Publications

• Research Article   
  The Influence of Gravitational Gradients on the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
  Author(s): Lucas Knoche, Bruce A. Young* and Tatyana Kondrashova
  
  The cardiovascular systems of terrestrial and aquatic snakes cannot accommodate gravitational gradients, while blood flow in arboreal snakes is not disrupted by tilting. Alligators have a very dynamic cardiovascular system, with multiple means of active regulation; however, the response of alligators to gravitational gradients has never been documented. Gravitational gradients were induced by rotating sub-adult specimens of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) between 45° head-up to 45° head-down in 15° increments. Intracranial pressure was assayed by quantifying the diameter of the optic nerve sheath using ocular ultrasonography; each increment of head-up rotation produced a significant decrease in nerve sheath diameter, while head-down rotations resulted in corresponding significant increases in nerve sheath diameter. Vascular ultrasonogr.. View More»
  DOI: 10.35248/2161-0940.19.9.318

  Abstract HTML PDF