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Figure 1


Fig. 1. Illustration of the mechanism of ventilation in crocodilians. (A) Expiration is produced by mediocaudal rotation of the ribs and constriction of the abdominal cavity, which produces a cranial translation of the viscera. Constriction of the abdomen results from activity of the transverses abdominis and the rectus abdominis muscles, which rotate the pubes and gastralia craniodorsad. (B) Inspiration is produced by laterocranial rotation of the ribs and caudal translation of the viscera. The viscera, including the large stomach and liver, are pulled caudad by contraction of the diaphragmaticus muscle. The ischiopubic and ischiotruncus muscles increase the abdominal volume by rotating the pubes and gastralia ventrocaudad. [Figure taken with permission from Farmer and Carrier (Farmer and Carrier, 2000).]





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