title: Tears of venom: hydrodynamics of reptilian envenomation.
abstract: In the majority of venomous snakes, and in many other reptiles, venom is conveyed from the animal's gland to the prey's tissue through an open groove on the surface of the teeth and not through a tubular fang. Here we focus on two key aspects of the grooved delivery system: the hydrodynamics of venom as it interacts with the groove geometry, and the efficiency of the tooth-groove-venom complex as the tooth penetrates the prey's tissue. We show that the surface tension of the venom is the driving force underlying the envenomation dynamics. In so doing, we explain not only the efficacy of the open groove, but also the prevalence of this mechanism among reptiles.
authors.affiliation: Anatomical Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts 01854, USA.
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Friedel
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rammensee
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bausch
authors.forename: J Leo
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: van Hemmen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008954:Models, Biological; D012104:Reptiles; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012911:Snakes; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
chemical_list: D012910:Snake Venoms