Monday 13 July 2015

Dolphin lung function could improve human medical techniques

JULY 12, 2015

by briang

Jonny Lim for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online - @jayohenenwhy

When dolphins dive deep in the water, they are able to avoid succumbing to decompression sickness, or “the bends,” because of their collapsible lungs as a new study fines. These lungs allow dolphins to inhale and exhale two to three times quicker than humans.

However, unlike humans, dolphins don’t need to be strapped to an oxygen tank to achieve these diving feats thanks to those compressible lungs of theirs.

According to Live Science, this discovery could help scientists keep humans safe when they are in a similar situation such as being under anesthesia during surgeries.

The researchers collected lung strength data using a "pneumotachometer" on their blowhole, a tool that measures the power of the dolphins' exhalation.

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