Cardiovascular physiology and diseases of amphibians.
The class Amphibia includes three orders of amphibians: the anurans (frogs and toads), urodeles (salamanders, axolotls, and newts), and caecilians. The diversity of lifestyles across these three orders has accompanying differences in the cardiovascular anatomy and physiology allowing for adaptations to aquatic or terrestrial habitats, pulmonic or gill respiration, hibernation, and body elongation (in the caecilian). This article provides a review of amphibian cardiovascular anatomy and physiology with discussion of unique species adaptations. In addition, amphibians as cardiovascular animal models and commonly encountered natural diseases are covered.
Heinz-Taheny
Kathleen M
KM
Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Co., 355 E. Merrill Street, Indianapolis IN 46225, USA. heinztahenykm@lilly.com
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity