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Essay / Review of Water Physiology in a Camel
Camels are large mammals that reside in desert regions. They are known to go long periods without water. They have this ability in part due to the shape of their blood cells. Their blood cells are large, numerous and oval in shape. They have the ability to swell, which allows them to transport oxygen and moisture. Their nose also acts as a humidifier and dehumidifier. Their noses allow moisture to be added or removed as needed. This method of breathing helps reduce water loss. Camels are also used for transportation purposes. Camels are exceptionally large animals that live in arid conditions. Their bodies have adapted to these conditions in order to maintain homeostasis. Camels are one of the largest and most graceful animals in the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The camel is essentially the king of the desert. Camels are one of the most fascinating animals on the planet. They are massive and are known to go without water in desert regions. Camels are huge brown mammals that live in the sand. Camels are animals with very long necks, which reside in arid regions. Camels are known to have one or two humps on their backs and are used by humans for transportation purposes. Camels can survive for long periods of time without consuming food or drinking water. They are known to go extended periods without consuming water. They are known to live in deserts and have adapted to their land. According to the dictionary, the one-humped camel is called Camelus dromedariu. This humped animal currently exists only for domestic purposes. It is also known to be a wild animal. The two-humped camel is known as Camelus bactrianus. This animal lives in the desert and steppe regions of northwest China. It also lives in southwest Mongolia. Camels are large, long-necked animals known to live in arid regions. The camel's red blood cells are oval or ellipsoid in shape. They also have large quantities of these cells. They have the ability to inflate up to 2.4 times their size. This increase in size allows for greater oxygen and moisture transport capacity. In comparison, a human's blood can swell to 1 1/2 times its normal size before rupturing and becoming potentially fatal. Their shape is also elongated in one direction. This formation allows the cells to align in the same direction. This results in less “blood flow affecting sludge”. Sludge is a slowing down of blood cells. The formations allow cells to flow quickly, all in the same direction. Reducing sludge is important because decreased blood flow decreases the amount of nutrients and oxygen delivered by blood cells. A reduction in oxygen and nutrients can lead to death. Dehydration is the cause of sludge formation. Loss of moisture from the blood allows the blood to become thicker. This thickness then reduces blood flow. The camel also has the capacity to maintain a “storage” of CO2 and glucose in the blood. Camels have the ability to control their body temperature. Just like humans, camels can prevent water loss by preventing sweating. They have this ability even at temperatures and conditions that would kill other animals and certainly would kill a human. Any lost perspiration is just loss from the skin,thus preserving humidity. Camels move slowly and use shade to try to stay cool. The heat of a desert can be unavoidable for the camel. Camels have the ability to live in very extreme conditions. Their blood has the ability to carry more moisture and oxygen, helping the camel maintain homeostasis. A camel's nose plays a crucial role in its water conservation. Its nose has the ability to be a dehumidifier or humidifier depending on conditions, as long as the air it breathes is hydrated. The camel uses its nose as a humidifier when it inhales warm air. This air then becomes humid and fresh. This cools the body and prevents moisture from leaving the respiratory system. The mucous membrane of the camel's nose has a large surface area. This large surface area helps accelerate cooling as evaporations occur. Dehumidification takes place when the air is exhaled. The nose features moisture-wicking material that transfers moisture, reducing water loss by 70%. The camel's nose is important for maintaining moisture balance. Camels are known for their large humps. These bumps can be used for transportation purposes by humans. Camels provide an efficient way to travel in difficult conditions. Camels have the ability to go almost a week without drinking. Camels live in the desert and food sources can be scarce. When a camel cannot find a food source, its body then metabolizes its fat reserves into energy. “When a camel goes for a particularly long time without food, the humps can deflate and collapse.” This sagging can be reversed if they consume enough water. “Camels can tolerate water loss of up to 30% of their body weight.” They don't have layers of fat under their skin, their fat is all stored in their bumps. Most people think that the humps on a camel's back are for storing water. This is not true, a camel's humps are fat that is used for food. This fat is stored in their large bumps and used for energy. This conversion into energy produces water. “Each gram of fat can produce more than one gram of water.” This conversion has a limit. Stored fat is broken down to release hydrogen into the animal's body. “This combines with oxygen to form water inside the animal.” This water is used to help maintain normal body conditions in a camel. Camels drink water, and lots of it. A camel can drink several liters of water at a time. “A camel can drink up to thirty gallons of water in fifteen minutes.” Camels can also obtain moisture from dew or plants such as cacti. A camel's humps are on its body for a reason. This grease is used for insulation. Grease insulation helps prevent moisture from escaping the body in extreme temperatures. When a camel goes for a long time without water to feed, its hump can deflate and become droopy. The camel has adapted mechanisms. These mechanisms allow it to cope with the lack of stagnant water. He has the ability to use the fat from his hump as fuel. Camel back hair also helps maintain water balance. “The thick hair helps keep the heat at bay and protects the skin from the sun.” The hair is coarse and thick enough to direct heat away from the camel's body. The underside of the body is covered with very fine hairs. This area with fine hair allows body heat to escape. The hair is finer on the underside and the skin is.