Codd, JR, Rose, KAR, Tickle, PG orcid.org/0000-0003-0389-3580 et al. (4 more authors) (2019) A novel accessory respiratory muscle in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Biology Letters, 15 (7). 20190354. ISSN 1744-9561
Abstract
The muscles that effect lung ventilation are key to understanding the evolutionary constraints on animal form and function. Here, through electromyography, we demonstrate a newly discovered respiratory function for the iliocostalis muscle in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). The iliocostalis is active during expiration when breathing on land at 28°C and this activity is mediated through the uncinate processes on the vertebral ribs. There was also an increase in muscle activity during the forced expirations of alarm distress vocalisations. Interestingly we did not find any respiratory activity in the iliocostalis when the alligators were breathing with their body submerged in water at 18°C, which resulted in a reduced breathing frequency. The iliocostalis is an accessory breathing muscle that alligators are able to recruit in to assist expiration under certain conditions.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2019, The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Biology Letters. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | electromyography, breathing, uncinate processes, crocodilian |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biomedical Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 08 Jul 2019 16:36 |
Last Modified: | 08 Jul 2019 16:36 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | The Royal Society |
Identification Number: | 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0354 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:148135 |