Chimpanzees, like humans, are mammals that breathe air through their lungs. They possess similar respiratory systems, consisting of several key components that facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Here's a detailed explanation of how chimpanzees do respiration:
1. Inhalation:
- Diaphragm Contraction: When a chimpanzee inhales, its diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the chest cavity, contracts. This movement increases the volume of the thoracic cavity (chest cavity).
- Rib Cage Expansion: As the diaphragm contracts, the rib cage expands outward and upward due to the contraction of intercostal muscles (muscles between the ribs). This further enlarges the thoracic cavity.
- Air Intake: The expansion of the thoracic cavity creates a negative pressure, drawing air into the lungs. Inhaled air enters through the mouth and nose, passes through the pharynx, larynx (voice box), and trachea.
2. Gas Exchange in the Lungs:
- Bronchi and Bronchioles: The trachea divides into two bronchi, one leading to each lung. Inside the lungs, the bronchi branch further into smaller bronchioles, which penetrate deep into the lung tissue.
- Alveoli: The bronchioles end in tiny air sacs called alveoli. Alveoli are lined with capillaries, which are minute blood vessels.
- Oxygen Absorption: Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses across the thin walls of the alveoli into the capillaries. The hemoglobin protein in the red blood cells carries the absorbed oxygen throughout the body.
- Carbon Dioxide Release: Carbon dioxide, a waste product of cellular respiration, diffuses from the capillaries back into the alveoli.
3. Exhalation:
- Diaphragm Relaxation: When a chimpanzee exhales, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, reducing the volume of the thoracic cavity.
- Rib Cage Movement: The intercostal muscles also relax, causing the rib cage to move inward and downward.
- Air Expulsion: The reduction in thoracic volume generates positive pressure within the lungs, pushing the stale air out. The air exits through the bronchioles, bronchi, trachea, larynx, and either the nose or the mouth.
Additional Points:
- Chimpanzees have a higher respiratory rate compared to humans. Their average breathing rate ranges from 15 to 30 breaths per minute, while humans typically have a rate of 12 to 18 breaths per minute.
- Chimpanzees use both their diaphragm and intercostal muscles during respiration, ensuring efficient breathing.
- Like humans, chimpanzees can voluntarily control their breathing rate and depth to some extent. For instance, they can increase their respiratory rate during physical exertion or hold their breath for short periods.
Understanding the respiratory system of chimpanzees provides insights into the physiological similarities between primates, including humans. By studying these evolutionary relatives, scientists can gain valuable knowledge about respiratory biology and comparative physiology.