The Diving mammals reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Diving mammals

Diving mammals use 5 techniques:

1. Change blood flow

  -send blood primary to the lung and heart

  -seal blood flow to the muscle goes to zero

  -tissues switch to anaerobic metabolism

2. Heart rate decreases

  -reduce oxygen demand in the heart

3. Blood composition changes (long term)

  -2x blood per unit mass

  -More blood goes to cells per unit volume

4. Exhale before dive

  -Help solve nitrogen problem (no bends)

  -No exchange takes place because air goes to the trachea and bronchi

5. Receptors sense presence of water

  -Prevent breathing, no open mouth under water.

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