Anatomy & Physiology: Current Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0940
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2161-0940
+44 1300 500008
Department of Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, MO, United States
Tatyana Kondrashova, Md, Phd, (above), is in the department of Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Community Health; Ryan Canaan, BS, and Brady Gunn, BS, are Osteopathic Medical Students iii; vanessa Pazdernik, MS, is in the department of Research Support; and Jeremy J. Houser, Phd, is in the Anatomy department; all are at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri.
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