Central cardiovascular dynamics of ducks

Abstract

Blood pressures and flows have been recorded from the heart and arterial arches of ducks in order to present a complete picture of central hemodynamics in an avian species. An attempt has also been made to define the characteristics of the avian central circulation in terms of either "windkessel", or wave-transmission models. Mean arterial pressure (143 plus or minus 2.2 mmHg) and cardiac output (219 plus or minus 7ml/kg per min) were high compared with those of similarly sized mammals, although therewas no evidence of elevated pulmonary pressures, perhaps because of the unusual structure of the avian lung. Only 25% of the total systemic flow was distributed by the aorta, the remainder supplying the wing, flight muscles, and head via the brachiocephalic arteries. The contours of central pressure and flow waves ressembled those recorded inmammal except that significant circulation impedance modulus graphs indicated that resistance to pulsatile flow fell sharply to a minimum of 1/30th the DC value at 9-12 Hz. Flow led pressure at frequencies below 9-12Hz and pressure led flow at higherfrequencies. Impedance modulus in the pulmonary circulation fell to one-half the DC value and remained constant over a wide range of frequencies with pressure and flow being in a phase at all frequencies. Aortic pulse wave velocity varied with position inthe aorta as did the pressure pulse profile: these factors obviously limit the applicability of a windkessel model to the avian circulation.