Essay On Diving Reflex

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Before commencement of the diving reflex, three critical changes have to occur to the body in order to stimulate the diving reflex. First to occur is change in the heart rate, this occurs immediately when the face has contact with cold water the human heart rate slows down ten to twenty-five percent. Seals for example undergo extreme changes in their heart rates, from going approximately 125 beats per minute to as low as 10 on a lengthened dive. (Arterial gas tensions, 1989). By slowing the heart rate it reduces the need for bloodstream oxygen, dispensing more to be utilized by other vital organs. Following the heart rate changes peripheral vasoconstriction sets in, which is the narrowing of blood vessels to reduce blood flow and is achieved by a muscular contraction in the blood vessel walls. This decreases the amount of blood that flows to peripheral organs in which do not need a high level of oxygen to function. This is the prevention of blood circulation to certain areas, first to close off are the Toes and fingers, then hands and feet, and ultimately arms and legs. The constriction allows for more blood for use by the heart, brain and organs. Lastly, the blood shift that occurs only during very deep dives. When this happens organ and circulatory walls allow plasma and water to pass freely throughout the thoracic cavity, so its pressure stays constant and prevents the organs from being crushed. In this stage, the lungs' alveoli fill up with blood plasma, which is reabsorbed as soon as the animal leaves the pressurized surrounding. This stage of the diving reflex has been observed in humans such as deep diving scuba divers, who can reach distances of approximately 90+ metres. Therefore, both a conscious and an unconscious pers...

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...rvived with no damage whatsoever, but it goes to show that the internal mechanism of Gore saved his life. Same goes to the deep diving scuba divers- the extreme processes to be able to go down to those lengths and to be able to survive through it. Deep diving depicts the specific adaptations certain animals had to undergo to be able to reach great depths without equipment and help. Records have been broken on extreme deep diving which shows forth the human body’s adjustment to certain pressurized environments with practice, which could lead to physical changes in the body to be able to without the diving gear. These examples are great instances on how evolutionary adaptations directly impact the survival of both human and animals. Mammillary diving responses is a direct force of natural selection which is continuously evolving to ensure survival of the fittest.

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