3D flow in the venom channel of a spitting cobra: do the ridges in the fangs act as fluid guide vanes?

ABSTRACT: The spitting cobra Naja pallida can eject its venom towards an offender from a distance of up to two meters. The aim of this study was to understand the mechanisms responsible for the relatively large distance covered by the venom jet although the venom channel is only of micro-scale. Therefore, we analysed factors that influence secondary flow and pressure drop in the venom channel, which include the physical-chemical properties of venom liquid and the morphology of the venom channel. The cobra venom showed shear-reducing properties and the venom channel had paired ridges that span from the last third of the channel to its distal end, terminating laterally and in close proximity to the discharge orifice. To analyze the functional significance of these ridges we generated a numerical and a

SUBMITTER: Triep M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3645995 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature