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Effect of Head Position Angles on the Blood Flow in the Jugular Vein of Giraffes

The study investigated the effect of the angular position of the head on the blood flow in the jugular vein of giraffes. The vein considered is elastic and collapsible such that its cross-sectional area is not uniform. Transmural pressure causes the blood to move along the vein. Mathematical equations describing the flow were developed, and the vein was considered to be inclined at an angle φ to the horizontal. A finite-difference scheme was used to solve the equations of motion

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How giraffes prevent oedema

An upright giraffe, by analogy with humans, ought to suffer massive oedema in its feet; moreover, when it lowers its head to drink, the blood should rush down into it and be unable to flow up again. New pressure measurements reported on page 59 of this issue by Hargens et al. Show why neither of these things happens, and also contain some surprising observations of highly variable venous pressure (P.) in the leg and of a counter-gravitational gradient of P.

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Variations in the thickness and composition of the skin of the giraffe

This study examined the skin of two 1- to 2-year-old male giraffes and one adult male, determining skin thickness and histological structure with reference to it functioning as a component of the features required for the maintenance of blood pressure, dermal armor, or thermoregulation. It has been argued that a tight skin surrounding the extremities of the giraffe aids in the movement of fluid against gravity, hence preventing pooling of blood and tissue fluid (edema), but the skin has also

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