Blood flow in dorsal and ventral aortas of the cod, Gadus morhua.

JONES, DAVID R., B. LOWELL LANGILLE, DAVID J. RANDALL, AND GRAHAM SHELTON. BloodJEow in the dorsal and ventral aortas of the cod, Gadus morhua. Am. J. Physiol. 226(l) : 90-95. 1974.Dorsal and ventral aortic blood flows have been recorded in cod and the flows compared with results from hydraulic and electrical models of the fish circulatory system. In the hydraulic model increase in “dorsal aortic” compliance resulted in an increase in cCdorsal aortic” flow pulsatility and decrease in pressure pulsatility. Damping of the CCdorsal aortic” pressure and flow pulses was illustrated by a simple analysis of a windkessel model. In the animal the ventral aortic flow pulse was 75 yO of the mean flow, whereas in the dorsal aorta flow was less oscillatory (pulse 46y0 of mean flow) ; nevertheless, flow was twice as pulsatile as pressure in the dorsal aorta. The results are discussed in terms of a simple windkessel model and it is concluded that considerable compliance resides after the gills. In this light, the advantages of smooth gill blood flow are examined paying particular attention to the effect of pulsatile flow in the gills on gas exchange.