A complex network of blood vessels may help a whale’s brain from turning to mush while diving.
Called retia mirabilia, which means “wonderful nets,” the blood vessel networks are present in some other animals besides cetaceans, including giraffes and horses. But the networks aren’t found in other aquatic vertebrates that move differently from whales, such as seals. So scientists had suspected that the cetaceans’ retia mirabilia play a role in controlling blood pressure surges.
. Without a way to relieve that pressure, those blasts could tear blood vessels and harm other organs, including the brain. Like other cetaceans, beluga whales have dense, intricate webs of blood vessels that protect the animals’ brains during diving, a new study finds.The networks “equalize the [blood flow] in a way that you never lose that blood that’s in the vein and it doesn’t collapse down on itself, and you don’t have that shooting arterial blood going really fast into the brain,” says marine biologist Tiffany Keenan of the University of North Carolina Wilmington who was not involved in the study.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa taken off the field on stretcher during game against Bengals | CNNThe Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher on Thursday during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, after suffering apparent head and neck injuries.
Read more »
NFL Players Tweet Prayers, Concerns for Tua TagovailoaThe Dolphins QB was stretchered off the field after a head and neck injury during the Thursday night game vs. the Bengals.
Read more »
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa carted off field during loss to Bengals, expected to fly home with teamAfter Thursday night's game, the Dolphins said Tua Tagovailoa was 'expected to be discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and will fly home with the team tonight.'
Read more »
Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Returns Home After Suffering Head Injury, 'In Good Spirits'Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has returned home after suffering a scary injury during Thursday's game against the Bengals.
Read more »
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa hospitalized after being carted off field during Thursday gameThe Miami Dolphins say quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has movement in all of his extremities after being carted off of the field and hospitalized in Thursday night's Dolphins game.
Read more »
What to expect during Dolphins vs. Bengals, National Coffee Day 2022, and more trending topicsThe Dolphins and Bengals meet tonight in Cincinnati, both coming off important wins. Get more on that and other trending news here.
Read more »