Functional anatomy of the heart of the fruit-eating bat, Eidolon helvum, Kerr.

Abstract

AbstractSeventy‐seven hearts from one species of bat, Eidolon helvum Kerr, have been examined as a preliminary step in correlating cardiac form the and function in relation to flight in mammals. The supposition is that the heart, like the upper limbs and pectoral girdle, will show deviations from the common mammalian plan because of the animal's unusual way of life.The first thing that happens in flight, as in any form of exercise, is an immense increase in venous return to the heart. The architecture of the sinus venarum of the right atrium and of the right ventricle in the region of the atrioventricular valve, including the position of the papillary muscles, may be related to prevention of rapid overdistension of the right side of the heart. The walls of the inflow and outflow tracts of the right ventricle are exceptionally smooth, an anatomical feature that may have significance in that friction may be reduced. The left side of the heart resembles that of other mammals more closely.