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To: wilso074@ma*.tc*.um*.ed* (Justin Wilson)
Subject: Re: Whales and the bends?
From: ddoolett@me*.ad*.ed*.au* (David Doolette)
Cc: techdiver@opal.com
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 1995 18:32:38 +1030

>Why don't whales get the bends?

My zoology is a little rough, but whales' thoracic cavity collapses due to 
the increased ambient pressure as they dive, apparently they look a bit 
scrunched up if you see them through the window of a submersible.  This 
collapse forces the air out of the alveoli into conducting (non-gas 
exchanging) portions of the bronchial tree.  Therefore gas uptake into the 
tissues is limited during the dive. 

regards,

David Doolette
ddoolett@me*.ad*.ed*.au*

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