Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
08:25
Impedance Pneumography for Minimally Invasive Measurement of Heart Rate in Late Stage Invertebrates
Published on: April 4, 2020
THE TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTIC FOR PHARYNGEAL BREATHING RHYTHM OF THE FROG.
1Zoological Laboratory, Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
Summary
The pharyngeal respiratory rhythm in frogs has a critical thermal increment of 8,800 calories. This frog breathing process, possibly synaptic, is distinct from H ion-catalyzed reactions.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Comparative Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- The pharyngeal respiratory rhythm is crucial for amphibian respiration.
- Understanding the thermal dependence of physiological processes is key to predicting organismal responses to environmental changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the temperature characteristic of the pharyngeal respiratory rhythm in frogs.
- To investigate the nature of the underlying physiological process driving this rhythm.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of pharyngeal respiratory rhythm frequency across a range of temperatures.
- Analysis of the temperature dependence using established biophysical models.
- Observation of adaptation effects at specific temperatures.
Main Results:
- The pharyngeal respiratory rhythm exhibits a critical thermal increment (micro) of 8,800 calories.
- Irregularities in rhythm appear around 15 degrees Celsius, reducible by adaptation.
- The temperature characteristic suggests a process distinct from H ion-catalyzed reactions.
Conclusions:
- The frog's pharyngeal respiratory rhythm is governed by a temperature-sensitive process, likely synaptic.
- This process's thermal properties differentiate it from known acid-catalyzed biological reactions.
- Environmental temperature significantly influences amphibian respiratory patterns.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Respiratory Volumes and Capacities I
Assessing the respiratory rate and rhythm for a complete minute is crucial for evaluating the breathing pattern. Even a minor increase in the patient's average respiratory rate, by as little as three to five breaths per minute, is an early and vital indicator of respiratory distress. Patients with a respiratory rate exceeding twenty-four breaths per minute require close monitoring to determine the physiological alterations. This careful observation is essential for prompt recognition and...
01:20Pharynx
The pharynx, a tubular structure framed by skeletal muscle and lined with mucous membrane, extends continuously from the nasal cavities. It is segmented into three major areas: the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx, bordered by the conchae of the nasal cavity, serves exclusively as an air conduit. In its superior region, the pharyngeal tonsils or adenoids are located. These tonsils are clusters of lymphoid reticular tissue akin to a lymph node. The precise...
Nasopharynx
The nasopharynx, bordered by the conchae of the nasal cavity, serves exclusively as an air conduit. In its superior region, the pharyngeal tonsils or adenoids are located. These tonsils are clusters of lymphoid reticular tissue akin to a lymph node. The precise...
01:29Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
The upper respiratory tract plays a vital role in the respiratory system, comprising several structures that facilitate air intake and prepare air for the lungs. It also serves as the first line of defense against pathogens and particles. This tract includes the nose and nasal cavity, the oral cavity, the paranasal sinuses, and the pharynx, each with specific functions and features.
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract.
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract.
01:30Alterations in Respiration II
There are numerous types of normal and abnormal respiration. Based on ventilatory movements, breathing patterns are classified as regular, deep, or shallow. Examples include Biot's breathing, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, Kussmaul's breathing, hyperventilation, and hypoventilation. Each pattern is clinically significant and aids in evaluating patients.
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
01:31Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers
Chemical factors such as changing CO2, O2, and H+ levels in arterial blood play a critical role in influencing respiration depth and rates. These variations are detected by chemoreceptors—specialized sensors located in two primary body areas. Central chemoreceptors are found throughout the brain stem, including the ventrolateral medulla, while peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the aortic arch and carotid arteries.
CO2 has a potent influence on respiration and is strictly regulated. Under...
CO2 has a potent influence on respiration and is strictly regulated. Under...
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory Depth
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement: