Researchers from Brown University, led by John Capano, studied how the processes combine
To watch the bones movesnakes, scientists used XROMM technology. Metal markers were placed on several ribs of the boa constrictor. X-ray images in two projections recorded a change in the position of the marks. Based on the images obtained, the scientists reconstructed the sequences of rib movement.
“In addition, we put special helmets on the snakes that measured the flow of incoming and outgoing air to confirm that the boas were still breathing,” says Capano.
Boas have more than two hundred pairs of ribs, whichlocated along the entire body. Normally, when breathing, the muscles rotate the ribs to force air in or out. Like the rest of the snake, the lungs of these reptiles stretch along the entire body. Scientists believe that the part of the lungs closest to the head is responsible for gas exchange. The lower part of the lungs has almost no vessels and resembles empty bags.
When boas grab their prey, their upper bodysqueezes the victim, which means that the ribs in these places cannot move, supporting breathing. When swallowing prey, this part of the body expands significantly to swallow a large object, and also cannot actively move.
The study showed that in these cases the snakethe ribs located closer to the tail begin to work. In this case, the bag-shaped parts of the lungs work like bellows, which are used, for example, to pump air in a forge. The active expansion of the lower parts of the lungs leads to the retraction of air into the areas of this organ in which gas exchange occurs.
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