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Distribution of blood in the ventricle and aortic arches in reptilia

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Summary

An anatomical study of the parts of the heart which are supposed to affect the distribution of the blood and the degree of mixing of the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the ventricles and aortic arches was made in representatives of the different orders of class Reptilia, mainly Lacertilia, Ophidia, Chelonia and Crocodilia.

The anatomical study includes the anatomy of each of the following in relation to the distribution of blood in the ventricle and aortic arches:

  1. 1.

    The auriculo-ventricular velves.

  2. 2.

    The origin of the arterial arches.

  3. 3.

    The relation of the interventricular septum to the openings of the aortic arches.

  4. 4.

    The muscular ridge if present.

  5. 5.

    The levels of origin of the three arterial arches.

  6. 6.

    The communication between the aortic arches and between them and the ventricular cavity.

In the physiological part the author presented a new method for tracing the flow of blood in the different chambers. This method depends principally on analysing specimens of blood taken from the aortic arches, sinus venosus, and the pulmonary vein, for their oxygen and carbon dioxide contents. Conclusions arrived at by this study were:

  1. 1.

    An appreciable degree of mixing of the blood in the ventricle of Agama stellio, Varanus gresius, Testudo leithii and Zamenis diadema takes place. In case of Crocodylus niloticus, the complete interventricular septum separates the arterial from the venous blood.

  2. 2.

    The oxygenated blood in the lungs in all the reptiles examined, including the Crocodylus, is not conveyed quantitatively by the right systemic arch.

  3. 3.

    The venous blood entering the heart is not conveyed quantitatively by the pulmonary arch in case of Lacertilia, Ophidia and Chelonia.

  4. 4.

    A proposal of a possible mechanism responsible for each of the findings mentioned before is given.

  5. 5.

    In case of Crocodylus, by analysis of blood, the author came to a conclusion that during normal respiration the foramen panizza serves for the passage of blood in both directions during the different phases of the cardiac cycle.

  6. 6.

    A great variation in the degree of mixing of the blood in the ventricle and aortic arches was detected in animals belonging to the same order and in animals of different orders of Reptila. Such variations were supposed to be caused by one or more of the following:

  1. a)

    The rate of development of the muscular trabeculae in the ventricle.

  2. b)

    The relation of the interventricular septum to the openings of the aortic arches.

  3. c)

    The rate of development of the muscular ridge.

  4. d)

    Differences in the levels of origin of the aortic arches.

  5. e)

    The communication between the aortic arches and between them and the ventricular cavity.

  6. f)

    The amount of residual blood left in the ventricle after the cardiac systole.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Zoology Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt (U.A.R.)

    Fouad Khalil & Kamel Zaki

  2. National Research Centre, Ministry of Scientific Research, Egypt (U.A.R.)

    Fouad Khalil & Kamel Zaki

Authors
  1. Fouad Khalil
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  2. Kamel Zaki
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Khalil, F., Zaki, K. Distribution of blood in the ventricle and aortic arches in reptilia. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 48, 663–689 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333746

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333746

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