Johann de Jager (More off than on)
Giraffe Day 2023/06/21
The ‘horns’ on a giraffe are more correctly known as ossicones – conical protrusions of bone that will grow throughout the life of a bull giraffe.
The giraffe is quite amazing. What kind of extra-strength apparatus does it take to pump blood up a 10-feet neck to the brain, then manage its flow below the heart, six feet to the hooves?
When a giraffe bends way down for a drink, why doesn't it faint from blood rushing to the brain? Why doesn't it stagger dizzily from a lack of blood to the brain when it stands back up?
A giraffe's super muscular heart is two feet long and weighs about 25 pounds. It pumps 16 gallons a minute. A remarkable network of veins and one-way valves prevent back-flow, keeping blood from rushing to the head. Blood vessels in the head are more elastic and may reserve some blood, which keeps the animal from fainting as it stands. Smaller red blood cells and capillaries all help make oxygen absorption quicker.
With gravity and a ton of weight sitting on four legs and hooves, why doesn't the giraffe have ballooning ankles?
NASA has studied this in developing gravity-suits for astronauts. Giraffes' legs have very strong, tight skin and tissue beneath. Rather like super compression stockings. Arteries are deep with thick, muscular walls.
A giraffe won't bleed heavily from a leg cut. It's interesting to note that while stroke and hardening of the arteries is seen in most mammals, it isn't a notable problem with the giraffe.
www.victoriaadvocate.com/361mag/entertainment/zoo-ology-g...
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Kruger National Park
Mpumalanga Province
South Africa
Giraffe Day 2023/06/21
The ‘horns’ on a giraffe are more correctly known as ossicones – conical protrusions of bone that will grow throughout the life of a bull giraffe.
The giraffe is quite amazing. What kind of extra-strength apparatus does it take to pump blood up a 10-feet neck to the brain, then manage its flow below the heart, six feet to the hooves?
When a giraffe bends way down for a drink, why doesn't it faint from blood rushing to the brain? Why doesn't it stagger dizzily from a lack of blood to the brain when it stands back up?
A giraffe's super muscular heart is two feet long and weighs about 25 pounds. It pumps 16 gallons a minute. A remarkable network of veins and one-way valves prevent back-flow, keeping blood from rushing to the head. Blood vessels in the head are more elastic and may reserve some blood, which keeps the animal from fainting as it stands. Smaller red blood cells and capillaries all help make oxygen absorption quicker.
With gravity and a ton of weight sitting on four legs and hooves, why doesn't the giraffe have ballooning ankles?
NASA has studied this in developing gravity-suits for astronauts. Giraffes' legs have very strong, tight skin and tissue beneath. Rather like super compression stockings. Arteries are deep with thick, muscular walls.
A giraffe won't bleed heavily from a leg cut. It's interesting to note that while stroke and hardening of the arteries is seen in most mammals, it isn't a notable problem with the giraffe.
www.victoriaadvocate.com/361mag/entertainment/zoo-ology-g...
***************************
Kruger National Park
Mpumalanga Province
South Africa