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  • 1
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    Springer
    Journal of comparative physiology 161 (1987), S. 43-58 
    ISSN: 1432-1351
    Source: Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Summary It is generally supposed that the elongated, often coiled tracheae of many species of birds are adaptations for the production of loud, penetrating calls. A corollary supposition is that the acoustic effects are produced by the resonant properties of the elongated tube, with the birds being analogized to a wind instrument. We have experimented with several species of cranes possessing different degrees of tracheal coiling. Regardless of the degree of coiling, all cranes can utter extremely loud calls using remarkably low driving pressures. Neither surgical modifications of the trachea nor changing the respiratory gases to helium-oxygen produced consistent changes of voice that could be unambiguously attributed to changes of tubal resonances. However, shortening the trachea markedly reduced vocal intensity, the degree of reduction being roughly proportional to the degree of shortening. Although some of that reduction may derive from an increased impedance mismatch at the external aperture of the tube, and some from a decreased radiation directly from the hard walls of the trachea, these explanations scarcely account for the dramatic effects we observed. We, therefore, hypothesize a more unusual mechanism: The tracheal coils that are embedded in the sternum serve a function analogous to the bridge of a stringed instrument, transmitting the vibrations of a tiny sound source to a large radiating surface, the sternum. The sternum then vibrates against the large internal air reservoir of the avian airsac system. As it has a complex shape, the sternum will have many resonances and will respond to many frequencies; as a solid oscillator, its resonances will not be greatly affected by low density gases. Hence, we suggest that cranes and other birds with enlarged windpipes are more properly analogized with a violin than a trombone.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 2
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    [s.l.] : Nature Publishing Group
    Nature 223 (1969), S. 207-208 
    ISSN: 1476-4687
    Source: Nature Archives 1869 - 2009
    Topics: Biology , Chemistry and Pharmacology , Medicine , Natural Sciences in General , Physics
    Notes: [Auszug] Fig 1 Heart rate of Caiman crocodilus during forced and voluntary dives. Left, stars connected by vertical lines indicate heart rate of the floating (top) and "diving" (bottom) animal in the presence of investigators. Right, heart rate of same specimen (snout-vent lenath 38 cm, weight 1,500 g, ...
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 3
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    New York, NY : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Morphology 215 (1993), S. 65-88 
    ISSN: 0362-2525
    Keywords: Life and Medical Sciences ; Cell & Developmental Biology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Most avian muscles consist of serially arranged, overlapping fibers that do not extend the length of the muscle. This condition appears to be plesiomorphic with respect to diapsid reptiles. The presence of this serialfibered architecture is evidenced by bands of stained motor end-plates (meps) perpendicular to the columns of fibers and dividing each column into a series of “segments.” The avian pectoralis was chosen for a study of variation in the distribution of meps within a single muscle. We report the interspecific variation for 158 specimens in 63 species. We also use additional specimens to examine intraspecific variation.Setting aside hummingbirds, which have an unique and clearly derived condition, the number of mep bands along a column of fibers near the shoulder falls within a remarkably small range. The number of segments is not obviously related to phylogenetic relatedness or to any characteristic of flight or ecology and is only slightly related to size. The largest specimens do average more segments per column, but there are no trends among small to medium-sized species, suggesting that there is an upper limit to fiber length. However, the shape of the sternum and pattern of connective tissue in the pectoralis alleviate the need for additional fibers in many large birds. These findings suggest that the architecture of the avian pectoralis is subject to some as yet unexplained selection that stabilizes the number of myofibers and/or motor neurons. The findings provide few clues as to whether the significant factors are phylogenetic, functional, ontogenetic, or some combination of these. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
    Additional Material: 7 Ill.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 4
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    New York, NY : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Morphology 128 (1969), S. 195-227 
    ISSN: 0362-2525
    Keywords: Life and Medical Sciences ; Cell & Developmental Biology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: The mechanism of lung ventilation in chelonians has been much debated. Electromyographic studies show that the basic mechanism in the snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, is dependent on the activities of four major respiratory muscles that are capable of varying the volume of the visceral cavity. The precise mechanism utilized varies in response to environmental factors, especially the depth to which the animal is submerged. Chelydra tends to reduce muscular activity to a minimum, and hydrostatic pressure or gravity replaces muscular effort whenever possible. The response is subject to hysteresis. Both the mechanics and pattern of ventilation in Chelydra differ from those of Testudo. The differences appear to be attributable in part to Chelydra's markedly reduced plastron and more extensive respiratory musculature and in part to the different habitats occupied by the two species.
    Additional Material: 16 Ill.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 5
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    New York, NY : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Morphology 152 (1977), S. 1-19 
    ISSN: 0362-2525
    Keywords: Life and Medical Sciences ; Cell & Developmental Biology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Records of electrical activity in the tracheal muscles of domestic chickens were obtained for a variety of ad libitum vocalizations. Primary attention was given to an analysis of events during the most complex call, crowing.Three pairs of muscles, Mm. tracheohyoideus, tracheolateralis, and sternotrachealis, can affect the configuration of a chicken's syrinx. The firing patterns of the three muscle pairs are related to their different abilities to affect the tension of the syringeal membranes. The influence of M. tracheohyoideus is most indirect and imprecise, and its role the least clearly defined. It appears to adjust the position of the trachea so that the syrinx is isolated from unpredictable and/or undesirable consequences of nuchal position and tracheal elasticity, and also helps draw the glottis caudad, thereby deepening the pharyngeal chamber. The other two muscles interact to control the tension of the vocal membranes. M. sternotrachealis relaxes the membranes by drawing the drum of the trachea caudad, or, via the syringeal ligament, by rotating the pessulus cranioventrad, or both. M. tracheolateralis tenses the membranes and/or prevents caudal movement of the origin of M. sternotrachealis, a necessity if the syringeal ligament is to rotate the pessulus.Vocalization depends on both syringeal configuration and appropriate air flow. Hence, tracheal muscles, syrinx, air sacs, and ventilatory muscles cooperate to form a vocal system. Cooperation elicits a surprising degree of redundancy. At least one call, a high pitched wail, may be produced by two very different techniques.
    Additional Material: 12 Ill.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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  • 6
    Electronic Resource
    Electronic Resource
    New York, NY : Wiley-Blackwell
    Journal of Morphology 198 (1988), S. 71-81 
    ISSN: 0362-2525
    Keywords: Life and Medical Sciences ; Cell & Developmental Biology
    Source: Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
    Topics: Biology , Medicine
    Notes: Glochidia are third-class levers in which the valves form the lever arms and the single adductor muscle produces the force. In this study the lengths of the lever arms and the areas of glochidial valves and adductor muscles were determined for 57 species of unionid glochidia. The position of the adductor muscle relative to the dorsal margin of the larval valve was also determined for each species. From these data and an analysis of the possible configurations of adductor muscle and valve dimensions, we determined that most of the glochidia within the Unionidae emphasize area of sweep during valve adduction. These glochidia possess long resistance arms and short force arms and generally had small-diameter adductor muscles. Other glochidia, however, were found to possess one or all of the following: short resistance arms, long force arms, and large-diameter adductor muscles. It is suggested that these glochidia are adapted for strength of valve adduction and that for these larvae a trade-off exists between strength of valve adduction and acceptable valve gape. Furthermore, this study suggests that the mode of attachment employed by glochidia has played a major role in the development of these bivalve larvae and has produced convergence in valve shape and adductor muscle size.
    Additional Material: 6 Ill.
    Type of Medium: Electronic Resource
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