Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Training Rats to Voluntarily Dive Underwater: Investigations of the Mammalian Diving Response
Published on: November 12, 2014
Perspectives in diving and asphyxia
1Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks 99775-1080.
Abstract:
Animals vary in their ability to tolerate asphyxia. Among aquatic species, some are well adapted to asphyxia associated with the apnea of their diving behavior. The related mechanisms and their regulation are not unique to aquatic animals, rather they are extensions of similar reactions noted in terrestrial species. Our understanding of asphyxia has grown in large part from research on aquatic mammals and birds and by comparing the responses of these natural breath-holding specialists with those of other animals. Studies in nature and in the laboratory have both contributed to this knowledge. The divers have been shown to rely ultimately on oxygen conservation and enhanced anaerobic reserves, producing a strategic retreat into a hypometabolic state.
Related Concept Videos
Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
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:
Alterations in Respiration II
In Biot's breathing, the respiratory rate and depth are irregular, alternating between periods of deep gasping and apnea. Common causes include...
Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration can...
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology

