title: An invariant number of the respiratory system of mammals: newborn and adult.
abstract: From four empirical allometric equations concerning the dynamics of the respiratory functions of mammals, it has been possible to obtain an invariant and dimensionless number after applying Buckingham's pi-theorem. In the present study, this invariant number (IN(R)), whose origin was interspecies comparisons in mammals of different sizes, was assayed with the aim to compare in a quantitative manner the possible difference between newborn and adult mammals. The results were compared with the predicted values from two theories of biological similarity, one mass-dependent, valid for newborns, and the other, weight-dependent, valid for adult mammals. Finally, we utilized Stahl's residual mass exponents (RME) to test the validity of the empirical and theoretical approaches.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morgado
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D008322:Mammals; D008954:Models, Biological; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000254:growth & development*