Functioning of unidirectional ventilation in flying hawkmoths evaluated by pressure and oxygen measurements and X-ray video and tomography.

ABSTRACT: Flying sphingids generate unidirectional ventilation with an inflow through the anterior thoracic spiracles and an outflow through the posterior thoracic spiracles. This phenomenon was documented by the CO2 emission and tracheal air pressure in split-chamber experiments in preceding studies. In the present study, we evaluated the function of the air pump mechanism by measuring the tracheal pressure and PO2 in the air sacs and monitoring the wing beat using photocells. Microelectrodes recorded the abdomen flexing muscles and abdominal transverse muscle septum. The crucial structure was the vertical mesophragma, with longitudinal flight muscles attached anteriorly and large fused metathoracic air sacs posteriorly, continuous to the first abdominal segment. Longitudinal flight muscles and abd

SUBMITTER: Wasserthal LT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11418177 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature