whale anatomy & physiology presented by kim sandor marine mammals keystone college
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WHALE ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY
Presented by Kim SandorMarine MammalsKeystone College
Average 50 feet in length
Skull forms more than 1/3 of the length
SKELETAL SYSTEM:
SKELETAL SYSTEM:
SPINAL COLUMN:
Consists of 44 vertebrae Cervical Vertebrae
Dorsal Vertebrae
Terminal Vertebrae
Spinal Cord is triangular in shape
CHEST REGION & FINS (skeletal):
Ribs
– 11 to 13 per side
– 1-6 are directly attached to the sternum
Sternum
Scapula
Humerus
Radius
Ulna
Carpus
7 square bones
Phalanges
5 bones
TEETH:
Average of 40-56 Each average
about 3 in. long Cutting lengthwise
reveals lines to estimate their age
Used to catch & crush prey/not to cut
TEETH:
Baleen whales have sieve-like structures called Baleen instead of teeth
JAW:
Considered weak Only moves in one
plain
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Food directly to pharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
Mechanical
Chemical
Pyloric Duodenal Ampulla
Pylorus
ORGANS:Liver
Pancreas
Anus
Kidneys
Many small kidneys
Bladder
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
Blowhole Voluntary
Nasal Cavity Sphincter Larynx Trachea Lungs
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:
Renews 80% of its air in one breath
Oxygen reserves in the blood & muscles
Hemoglobin
Myoglobin
Diving at great depths
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM:
Warm blooded Veins/Arteries
Also used to conserve body heat
Abundant with red blood cells
Increases amount of oxygen carried
HEART:
Heart rate about 60bpm at the surface
Heart rate about 30bpm when diving
Large whales it is a lot slower:
10-30bpm
After a lengthy time under water, the right half of the heart stops beating and restricts blood flow to the lungs to allow the left side of the heart to send the oxygenated blood to the brain
THERMOREGULATION: Thick layer of blubber just
underneath the skin
Insulation & energy reserve
Body temp. about 97.5 F
Blubber composed of fat cells & fibrous connective tissue about 3-4 in. thick
Increased metabolic rate generates body heat
When diving blood is shut off from the surface to decrease circulation to conserve body heat
Warm water/Exercise may cause the need to release excess heat to the flippers, flukes, or fins
Their reduced limb sizes and body shape help them conserve body heat because of the decreased amount of surface area exposed
MUSCULAR SYSTEM: Great amounts of
myoglobin rich in oxygen
Tail is main source of forward movement
Dorsal Fin source for rolling or changing position in water
Flukes are used for steering and to aid in stopping
Main source for oxygen storage
SKIN:
Epidermis Stratum granulosum Stratum lucidum Shed rapidly while swimming Mitotic division rate about 290X that of the
human epidermis
SENSES: Sight
Hearing/Echolocation Sends out a sound that echoes of the object to
determine the distance, size, shape, texture, and speed of the object
Send to the brain through the auditory nerve
Smell
Taste
Touch vibrissae/stubble-like whiskers
Magnetism
WORKS CITED:
AARLUK. Killer Whales Breathing,Killer Whales Digestion, & Thermoregulation, retrieved 4/11/11, http://www.aarluk.com
Beale, Thomas. The Natural History Of The Sperm Whale, retrieved 4/6/11, http://mysite.du.edu/ttyler/ploughboy/bealenew.htm
Killer Whale Biology, retrieved, 4/6/11, http://www.orca.online.fr/kwhales.htm
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/killer-whale/adaptations.htm Retrieved 4/8/11
http://library.thinkquest.org/1963/respiratory-system.html Retrieved 4/8/11
Whale Anatomy and Physiology. Whale Senses. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/anatomy/index.shtml, retrieved 3/31/11.
Killer Whale Biology. http://www.orca.online.fr.contents.htm, retrieved 3/31/11.
Cetaceans. http://science.jrank.org/pages/1355/Cetaceans-Anatomy-physiology.html, retrieved 3/31/11.
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