Structure-function relationships in the nasal cavity of Arctic and subtropical seals.

ABSTRACT: The heating and moistening of inhaled air, and the cooling and moisture removal from exhaled air, are crucial for the survival of animals under severe environmental conditions. Arctic mammals have evolved specific adaptive mechanisms to retain warmth and water and restrict heat loss during breathing. Here, the role of the porous turbinates of the nasal cavities of Arctic and subtropical seals is studied with this in mind. Mass and energy balance equations are used to compute the time-dependent temperature and water vapor profiles along the nasal passage. A quasi-1D model based on computed tomography images of seal nasal cavities is used in numerical simulations. Measured cross-sectional areas of the air channel and the perimeters of the computed tomography slices along the nasal cavities o

SUBMITTER: Cheon HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10754691 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature