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Deep diving mammals: Dive behavior and circulatory adjustments contribute to bends avoidance.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fahlman, A; Olszowka, A; Bostrom, B; Jones, DR
Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology
August 2006

A mathematical model was created that predicted blood and tissue N(2) tension (P(N2)) during breath-hold diving. Measured muscle P(N2) from the bottlenose dolphin after diving repeatedly to 100 m (Tursiops truncatus [Ridgway and Howard, 1979, Science, 4423, 1182-1183]) was compared with predictions from the model. Lung collapse was modelled as a 100% pulmonary shunt which yielded tissue P(N2) similar to those reported for the dolphin. On the other hand, predicted muscle P(N2) for an animal with a dive response, reducing cardiac output by 66% from surface values (20.5 to 6.8l x min(-1)), also agreed well with observed values in the absence of lung collapse. In fact, modelling indicated that both cardiovascular adjustments and dive behaviour are important in reducing N2 uptake during diving and enhancing safe transfer of tissue and blood N2 back to the lung immediately before coming to the surface. In particular, diving bradycardia during the descent and bottom phase together with a reduced ascent rate and increase in heart rate reduced mixed venous P(N2) upon return to the surface by as much as 45%. This has important implications as small reductions in inert gas load (approximately 5%) can substantially reduce decompression sickness (DCS) risk by as much as 50% (Fahlman et al., 2001, J. Appl. Physiol. 91, 2720-2729).

Duke Scholars

Published In

Respiratory physiology & neurobiology

DOI

EISSN

1878-1519

ISSN

1569-9048

Publication Date

August 2006

Volume

153

Issue

1

Start / End Page

66 / 77

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Respiration
  • Pulmonary Gas Exchange
  • Physiology
  • Nitrogen
  • Models, Biological
  • Mammals
  • Diving
  • Decompression Sickness
  • Blood Circulation
 

Citation

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Fahlman, A., Olszowka, A., Bostrom, B., & Jones, D. R. (2006). Deep diving mammals: Dive behavior and circulatory adjustments contribute to bends avoidance. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 153(1), 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2005.09.014
Fahlman, A., A. Olszowka, Brian Bostrom, and David R. Jones. “Deep diving mammals: Dive behavior and circulatory adjustments contribute to bends avoidance.Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology 153, no. 1 (August 2006): 66–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resp.2005.09.014.
Fahlman A, Olszowka A, Bostrom B, Jones DR. Deep diving mammals: Dive behavior and circulatory adjustments contribute to bends avoidance. Respiratory physiology & neurobiology. 2006 Aug;153(1):66–77.
Fahlman, A., et al. “Deep diving mammals: Dive behavior and circulatory adjustments contribute to bends avoidance.Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, vol. 153, no. 1, Aug. 2006, pp. 66–77. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.resp.2005.09.014.
Fahlman A, Olszowka A, Bostrom B, Jones DR. Deep diving mammals: Dive behavior and circulatory adjustments contribute to bends avoidance. Respiratory physiology & neurobiology. 2006 Aug;153(1):66–77.
Journal cover image

Published In

Respiratory physiology & neurobiology

DOI

EISSN

1878-1519

ISSN

1569-9048

Publication Date

August 2006

Volume

153

Issue

1

Start / End Page

66 / 77

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Respiration
  • Pulmonary Gas Exchange
  • Physiology
  • Nitrogen
  • Models, Biological
  • Mammals
  • Diving
  • Decompression Sickness
  • Blood Circulation