- Aug 8, 2012
- 6,299
- 7,453
- 75
- Country
- Australia
- Faith
- Atheist
- Marital Status
- Divorced
This is the opening line of a genuine LIVESCIENCE article from 3 days ago.
As your Ace Science Reporter from Down Under my job is to follow the science wherever it may lead. In this case, into places I would not normally venture.
Read on>>
Pigs can breathe through their butts. Can humans? | Live Science (Paraphrased)
Whether you call it intestinal-ventilation, anal-aeration, rectal- resuscitation or just plain bum-breathing, it appears that mammals can actually absorb oxygen through blood vessels in the lower end of their intestinal tract. Following inspiration from sea cucumbers and loach (a fish), scientists experimented by pumping oxygen up the rear ends of mice, rats and pigs. Subjects exposed to a low-oxygen environment survived far longer with anally ventilated oxygen.
Experiments are ongoing using a liquid fluorocarbon, infused with oxygen, as a means of introducing oxygen into the gut without damaging its coating of epithelial cells. A similar process is already in use in the lungs of infants suffering severe respiratory distress.
The concept was also triggered by potential shortages of ventilators during the COVID 19 pandemic. At a future time, one can imagine patients lined up head-to-tail sharing new and improved dual-purpose ventilators.
Gratuitous and unnecessary picture of a pig’s breathing apparatus
Full Article:
Pigs can breathe through their butts. Can humans? | Live Science
OB
"Mice, rats and pigs all share a secret superpower: They can all use their intestines to breathe, and scientists discovered this by pumping oxygen up the animals' butts."
As your Ace Science Reporter from Down Under my job is to follow the science wherever it may lead. In this case, into places I would not normally venture.
Read on>>
Pigs can breathe through their butts. Can humans? | Live Science (Paraphrased)
Whether you call it intestinal-ventilation, anal-aeration, rectal- resuscitation or just plain bum-breathing, it appears that mammals can actually absorb oxygen through blood vessels in the lower end of their intestinal tract. Following inspiration from sea cucumbers and loach (a fish), scientists experimented by pumping oxygen up the rear ends of mice, rats and pigs. Subjects exposed to a low-oxygen environment survived far longer with anally ventilated oxygen.
Experiments are ongoing using a liquid fluorocarbon, infused with oxygen, as a means of introducing oxygen into the gut without damaging its coating of epithelial cells. A similar process is already in use in the lungs of infants suffering severe respiratory distress.
The concept was also triggered by potential shortages of ventilators during the COVID 19 pandemic. At a future time, one can imagine patients lined up head-to-tail sharing new and improved dual-purpose ventilators.
Gratuitous and unnecessary picture of a pig’s breathing apparatus
Full Article:
Pigs can breathe through their butts. Can humans? | Live Science
OB