The Respiratory Mechanism in the Grasshopper

McCutcheon, F. H.

doi:10.1093/aesa/33.1.35

Cited by 21 publications

(11 citation statements)

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“…The diverse functions of the air sacs in the insect have been summarized by Wigglesworth (1963Wigglesworth ( , 1972. Further, they are thought to act as bellows in ventilating the tracheal system (Bets, 1933), to guarantee an intensive ventilation of the trachea during breathing (Demoll, 19271, to act as sound resonators (Pringle, 1957;Church, 19601, to act as heat insulators (Weis-Fogh, 1964a1, to assist in egg laying and molting (Clarke, 19571, and to permit the build-up of sufficient pressure to supply air to smaller tracheae (McCutcheon, 1940). In Hymenoptera, there is a good correlation between the development of the air sacs and the size and activity of the various species of insect (Tonapi, 1958).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic study of the tracheal air sac system in a grasshopper Chrotogonus senegalensis (Kraus)—Orthoptera: Acrididae: Pyrogomorphinae

Maina

1989

Anat. Rec.

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The morphology of the trachea-air sac system in a species of grasshopper Chrotogonus senegalensis has been studied by using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Capacious air sacs were formed as dilatations along the primary tracheal trunks. Narrower secondary trachea arose either directly from the primary trachea that bypassed the air sacs or from the air sacs themselves. At or close to the organ or tissue supplied with air, the secondary trachea gave rise to the notably smaller tertiary trachea that penetrated the tissue, giving rise terminally to the extremely small tracheoles that indent some cells. The trachea and the air sacs were basically made up of an inner cuticular lining, helical taenidial rings, and an overlying epithelial cell cover. The air sacs may be important in efficient ventilation of the respiratory system. The supply of air directly to the tissue cells was viewed as an exemplary efficient design when compared to that prevailing in the nontracheate air-breathing animals, where the vascular system is interposed between the respiratory organ and the target tissue cells. A similarity in the general morphological design of the insect and avian respiratory systems has been observed, mainly in respect to the presence of the air sacs and that of the respiratory shunts. This, together with the reported functional features like the unidirectional mode of ventilation, has been interpreted as a classic case of structural and functional convergent evolution leading to the evolution of similar and comparably efficient respiratory systems capable of providing the large amount of oxygen demanded by flight.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic study of the tracheal air sac system in a grasshopper Chrotogonus senegalensis (Kraus)—Orthoptera: Acrididae: Pyrogomorphinae

Maina

1989

Anat. Rec.

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“…Indeed, it was established more than 50years ago through visual observation and mechanical recordings that dorso-ventral contractions and longitudinal telescoping movements of the abdomen occur in grasshoppers at rest (e.g. McCutcheon, 1940;Weis-Fogh, 1967;Lewis et al, 1973). More recent work that included gas exchange recordings showed that gas exchange may also take place when no abdominal pumping occurs, suggesting that gas exchange is primarily diffusive (although some micro-ventilation pumping actions can be employed, are barely visible to the naked eye and may aid convection) (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Respiratory dynamics of discontinuous gas exchange in the tracheal system of the desert locust,Schistocerca gregaria

Groenewald

Hetz

Chown

et al. 2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYGas exchange dynamics in insects is of fundamental importance to understanding evolved variation in breathing patterns, such as discontinuous gas exchange cycles (DGCs). Most insects do not rely solely on diffusion for the exchange of respiratory gases but may also make use of respiratory movements (active ventilation) to supplement gas exchange at rest. However, their temporal dynamics have not been widely investigated. Here, intratracheal pressure, V CO2 and body movements of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria were measured simultaneously during the DGC and revealed several important aspects of gas exchange dynamics. First, S. gregaria employs two different ventilatory strategies, one involving dorso-ventral contractions and the other longitudinal telescoping movements. Second, although a true spiracular closed (C)-phase of the DGC could be identified by means of subatmospheric intratracheal pressure recordings, some CO 2 continued to be released. Third, strong pumping actions do not necessarily lead to CO 2 release and could be used to ensure mixing of gases in the closed tracheal system, or enhance water vapour reabsorption into the haemolymph from fluid-filled tracheole tips by increasing the hydrostatic pressure or forcing fluid into the haemocoel. Finally, this work showed that the C-phase of the DGC can occur at any pressure. These results provide further insights into the mechanistic basis of insect gas exchange.

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“…Perhaps the best-understood insects in terms of respiratory mechanisms are the locusts, thanks to pioneering work by Snodgrass (40), Fraenkel (8,9), Miller (29,(31)(32)(33), Weis-Fogh (50 -52), McCutcheon (28), and Burrows (3,4). These seminal early papers have been updated with extensive studies that link measures of internal gas tensions, ventilation, and gas exchange with synchrotron X-ray imaging of tracheal system dimensions and compression (10 -15, 19).…”

Section: Convective and Diffusive Gas Exchange In Insectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In locusts, and perhaps other insects, expansion of the abdomen can be passive, due to elasticity of the structures, or active. During active expansion, muscles attached to tall spurs within the abdomen (the apodemes) can lift upward on the tergum (roof of the abdomen), expanding abdominal volume (28). At rest at body temperatures of 25°C, abdominal pumping frequencies average 20 -30 pumps/min with tidal volumes in the range of 40 l, and volume changes (ventilation) of ϳ1 ml/min (10).…”

Section: Abdominal Pumping and Pressuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Locusts Breathe

et al. 2013

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Insect tracheal-respiratory systems achieve high fluxes and great dynamic range with low energy requirements and could be important models for bioengineers interested in developing microfluidic systems. Recent advances suggest that insect cardiorespiratory systems have functional valves that permit compartmentalization with segment-specific pressures and flows and that system anatomy allows regional flows. Convection dominates over diffusion as a transport mechanism in the major tracheae, but Reynolds numbers suggest viscous effects remain important.

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The Respiratory Mechanism in the Grasshopper

Cited by 21 publications

References 0 publications

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic study of the tracheal air sac system in a grasshopper Chrotogonus senegalensis (Kraus)—Orthoptera: Acrididae: Pyrogomorphinae

Scanning and transmission electron microscopic study of the tracheal air sac system in a grasshopper Chrotogonus senegalensis (Kraus)—Orthoptera: Acrididae: Pyrogomorphinae

Respiratory dynamics of discontinuous gas exchange in the tracheal system of the desert locust,Schistocerca gregaria

How Locusts Breathe

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