An Introduction to Oxygen
Oxygen is one of the most valuable resources on all of planet Earth, and the eighth most common element in the galaxy. Its natural form is as a gas, and is rarely seen in any other state when not combined with other elementsIt makes up water when combined with Hydrogen, any animal with blood survives off oxygen and it even helps stabalize the human nervous system. But out of those three uses for Oxygen, the most important one is providing energy to red blood cells. Nearly ninety percent of the energy humans get is from Oxygen. (1)
The respiratory system of a snake
The respiratory tract of snakes consists of external nares, nasal cavity, internal nares, glottis, trachea, bronchi, lung(s) and air sac. Unlike most animals, there is no diaphram. (2) The snake breaths air through its naval cavity (nose) and its trachea (throat). During the feeding process, the glottis is able to move laterally to facilitate respiration while ingesting large prey items, a process which may take considerable time. (2) The first place air goes when inhaled through the internal or external nares is the glottis. Then the air goes to the trachea, which brings the air to the lungs at around the base level of the heart. Upon entering the lungs, the air goes to the Bronchi, where the oxygen through a method called diffusion is supplied to the deoxygenated blood cells. The left over is either exhaled or stored in the air sacs.
Fun facts!
- Most Snakes (including the Black Racer Snake) can eat and breath through their mouth at the same time
- The Right lung can be up to 85% bigger than the Left lung
Sources
(1)http://www.naturalcleansingtechniques.com/life-support.html
(2)http://en.wikivet.net/Snake_Respiratory_System
(2)http://en.wikivet.net/Snake_Respiratory_System