Pls explain nasal counter current mechanism in kangaroo rat...
Dear Student,
During the process of respiration a significant amount of water can loss. In the case of kangaroo rat (Dipodomys sp), they have evolved a particularly effective mechanism which is referred to as temporal counter-current exchange mechanism in their nasal passages which helps them to reduce or minimises the amount of water lost from the respiratory system in form of mucus etc. They have special type structure call as nasal turbinates or concha which plays a major structural and functional role or mechanism in them. There are a series of bones, shelf-like structures in the nasal passageway covered with a well-vascularized layer of moist tissue and mucus. When the inhaled air passes over this surface, it gets warmed and moistened, and in turn, surface gets cooled due to evaporation. When the animal exhales, warm, water-saturated air from the lungs passes across the cooled nasal turbinate surfaces and water condenses out of it, staying within the nasal passages rather than being lost to the outside air. Those species with the highest percentage respiratory water recovery , they have the most complex nasal turbinate structure. The key features of the more elaborate nasal turbinates are their very large surface area and the short distance from that surface to the middle of the airstream.
some other species in which mechanism can be observed are - Elephant Seal, Penguin, Reindeer, Camel
Hope this information will clear your doubts about topic.
If you have any more doubts just ask here on the forum and our experts will try to help you out as soon as possible.
Regards
During the process of respiration a significant amount of water can loss. In the case of kangaroo rat (Dipodomys sp), they have evolved a particularly effective mechanism which is referred to as temporal counter-current exchange mechanism in their nasal passages which helps them to reduce or minimises the amount of water lost from the respiratory system in form of mucus etc. They have special type structure call as nasal turbinates or concha which plays a major structural and functional role or mechanism in them. There are a series of bones, shelf-like structures in the nasal passageway covered with a well-vascularized layer of moist tissue and mucus. When the inhaled air passes over this surface, it gets warmed and moistened, and in turn, surface gets cooled due to evaporation. When the animal exhales, warm, water-saturated air from the lungs passes across the cooled nasal turbinate surfaces and water condenses out of it, staying within the nasal passages rather than being lost to the outside air. Those species with the highest percentage respiratory water recovery , they have the most complex nasal turbinate structure. The key features of the more elaborate nasal turbinates are their very large surface area and the short distance from that surface to the middle of the airstream.
some other species in which mechanism can be observed are - Elephant Seal, Penguin, Reindeer, Camel
Hope this information will clear your doubts about topic.
If you have any more doubts just ask here on the forum and our experts will try to help you out as soon as possible.
Regards