Pulmonary Anatomy of the Rock Monitor (Varanus albigularis ) studied by computed

tomography

Lizard Lungs

Samuel

The Academy for Math, Engineering, and Science

Research Report

1/02/18
 Pulmonary Anatomy of the Rock Monitor (Varanus albigularis ) studied by computed
tomography

An organism is composed of organ systems working in unison to keep each other alive.

Within each organs system, there are primary organs that play key roles in order for the system

to work. Lungs are arguably the most vital organs in the Human body, yet, they contain some

major shortcomings. Lungs in general have been selected over millennia for desirable traits,

which show up differently across different species. Closely related species can be compared by

their lungs with surprisingly dissimilar results. One major step in comparing the lungs of

different organisms would be to study how exactly the air flows within the lungs respectively.

First, lungs in humans are not able to contract on their own to take in air. The diaphragm

instead is used to allow the individual to breathe. This dependence upon another muscle entirely

is only one example of the many deficiencies that can be found in the human lungs. Another

example is their terrible gas exchange rate. Lungs in people are made “thicker” in order to

prevent tears in the muscle while the lungs are expanding during inhalation (Carrier). This

increased thickness in the muscle causes a major decrease for gas exchange rates because the

size of the barrier the oxygen must travel through is increased. Lastly, these lungs withhold much

of the same air from a previous breath inside their chambers, due to poor circulation. The cause

of the poor circulation is the diaphragm causing all the air circulation to happen. If the lung itself

could contract, or there was more than one area which caused negative air pressure, it would

allow for better air circulation within those lungs. Luckily, Mother Nature has already provided

ample solutions to all of these problems. A different structure altogether for the lung would be

able to remedy the issues mentioned before.

Lung structure study is a relatively large uncharted area of science. When comparing lung

structure, the lungs are usually excised from the specimens themselves, or studied in real time by
using a CT-scan or other internal imaging process. Up until about the last 15 years, it was

believed that only birds had a lung structure capable of producing unidirectional air flow patterns

(Farmer). Unidirectional air flow; Air flow in one direction. In the lungs of birds, there are areas

where the air flows in only one direction regardless of whether the specimen is inhaling, or

exhaling. Although air flow is tidal (many directions) in the trachea, where all the air has to

originally travel through, there are areas where air flow is restricted to a “forward” direction.

This flow is continuous in one direction during both inhalation to the exhalation. This is not the

case for mammals, specifically humans. Humans have tidal air flow patterns where air is inhaled

and exhaled following roughly the same path. This development in lung structure was originally

attributed for a “high performance” lifestyle of birds, who need more oxygen use the muscles

necessary for flight. This led many to believe that the bird lung was superior to the human lung.

Recently however, unidirectional air flow patterns were confirmed in a few species of lizards,

turtles, and alligators (Schaenner).

Two very different lung structures can be found in green iguanas and turtle lungs. The

green iguana has several more chambers in total, when compared to the 3 chambers that can be

found in turtles. The turtle, being a much more primitive creature, is expected to have a simpler

design. The iguana which has a more demanding lifestyle, would need a better tailored set of

lungs to meet with its oxygen demands. Both however, share the trait of unidirectional air flow,

and both are non-avian creatures, which would imply that the split between lung structures

occurred sometime after Mammalia split from Reptilia.

3-D models of lungs pertaining to species of interest can be used to find out more.

Specifically, with air simulations on the models, they can help point towards certain features that

influence air currents heavily, and which features are irrelevant for unidirectional air flow. The
goal of this research was conducted with the end goal of creating a useable model with which to

apply said simulations.

Important terms to define: Tidal Airflow – Airflow that is non-laminar/non-uniform.

Squamates – Scaled reptiles. Archosaur – A group of diapsid amniotes whose living

representatives include present day birds and crocodilians. Diapsid – a group of amniote

tetrapods that developed who holes on each side of their skulls. Amniote – an animal whose

embryo develops in an amnion and chorion, and has an allantois (A bird, mammal, or reptile).

Question

What are the physical similarities and differences between the lungs of V. albigularis and V.

exanthematicus?

Hypothesis

The number of lobes and their sizes should be roughly the same, with V.exanthematicus being
slightly smaller. This could attributed to the habitats each species normally inhabits.
 Materials and Methods

 CT scans of V. albigularis

 Avizo 8.1

 Wacom Intuos4 pen tablet

 lulzbot TAZ printer

 3.0 mm PVA filament

 3.0 mm PLA filament

 Desktop PC

The airways on the slice were selected as regions of interest (ROIs) in each slice of the CT

scan in order to create an atlas of the pulmonary anatomy. The regions from each slice were

interpolated into three dimensional structures representing the major and minor airways of the

lung. ROIs were drawn manually, using the pen tablet.

 Results

When comparing the 3D model of V. albigularis to V. exanthematicus, there were more

differences than originally anticipated. The most notable of which; the cervical Bronchus is

larger and more balloon like in V. albigularis and bears no obvious direct connection to the

primary bronchus. Other differences include; The Primary Bronchus and abdominal sac bronchus

are thicker caudally in V. albigularis, the primary bronchus is much more curved in V.

albigularis, the Lateral Lobes in V. exanthematicus are thinner overall when compared to similar

lobes in V. albigularis. Unidirectional airflow is found in both species, both have 10 lateral

lobes, and the dorsal area of the lung is relatively more complex than the ventral part in both

species.

Discussion

The similarity in lateral bronchial structure in both species suggests these bronchi may be

important in controlling the airflow pattern. The structure of the lung itself strongly influences

where unidirectional airflow can occur. Due to structural differences between the two species, it

appears the bronchi are also important factors to take into consideration. Airflow patterns are

similar in both species, this may indicate that curvature of the primary bronchus is not important

to the flow pattern.

Conclusion

The data collected supported the hypothesis stated earlier. Both Varanidae species had 10

lobes on their lungs. A notable difference within the two species would be the Cervical

Bronchus, it is larger in V. albigularis than in V. exanthematicus.

 References

 Carrier DR (1987) The evolution of locomotor stamina in tetrapods: circumventing a

mechanical constraint. Paleobiology, 13(3) pp. 326-341

 Cieri RL, Farmer CG (2016) Unidirectional pulmonary airflow in vertebrates: a review of

structure, function, and evolution. J Comp Physiol B.

 Farmer CG (2015) The Evolution of Unidirectional Pulmonary Airflow. Physiology (30)

pp. 260-272

 Farmer CG (2015) Unidirectional flow in lizard lungs: a paradigm shift in our

understanding of lung evolution in Diapsida. Zoology

 Owerkowicz T, Farmer CG, Hicks JW, Brainerd EL (1999) Contribution of Gular

Pumping to Lung Ventilation in Monitor Lizards. Science (284) pp. 1661-1663

 Schachner, Emma R., Robert L. Cieri, James P. Butler, and C. G. Farmer. 2013.

“Unidirectional Pulmonary Airflow Patterns in the Savannah Monitor Lizard.” Nature

506 (7488) (December 11): 367–370. doi:10.1038/nature12871.