Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Variations in function and design: testing symmorphosis in the respiratory system.

E R Weibel1, C R Taylor, H Hoppeler

  • 1Department of Anatomy, University of Berne, Switzerland.

Respiration Physiology
|March 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Mammalian energy needs vary due to respiratory system design. Internal systems like mitochondria match energy demand, but lungs have excess capacity, reflecting environmental interface constraints.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Magnetomicrometry.

Science robotics·2021
Same author

On prosthetic control: A regenerative agonist-antagonist myoneural interface.

Science robotics·2020
Same author

Tonic-clonic seizure after unrecognized unintentional dural puncture.

International journal of obstetric anesthesia·2020
Same author

Issues in using whole slide imaging for diagnostic pathology: "routine" stains, immunohistochemistry and predictive markers.

Biotechnic & histochemistry : official publication of the Biological Stain Commission·2013
Same author

Energy benchmarks for water clusters and ice structures from an embedded many-body expansion.

The Journal of chemical physics·2013
Same author

Clinical pharmacology quality assurance for HIV and related infectious diseases research.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics·2013

Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Comparative Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Mammalian energy requirements exhibit significant variation beyond body size.
  • Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) shows adaptive variation, suggesting differences in respiratory system design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between mammalian energy requirements and respiratory system design.
  • To analyze adaptive variation in respiratory structures and functions relative to metabolic demands.

Main Methods:

  • A model was developed to separate functional and design parameters across four key respiratory steps: pulmonary gas exchange, cardiovascular system, microvasculature, and mitochondria.
  • Observed variations in these parameters were analyzed in relation to energy demand and the symmorphosis hypothesis.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • The internal components of the respiratory system (mitochondria, capillaries, blood, heart) demonstrate designs closely matched to functional energy demands.
  • The lung, however, exhibits a variable excess of morphometric diffusing capacity.

Conclusions:

  • Internal respiratory system components are optimized for metabolic needs, supporting the symmorphosis hypothesis.
  • The lung's excess capacity may be attributed to its limited malleability and its role as an environmental interface.