Respiration in birds: a functional and anatomical approach. [Dutch]Original Title Respiratie bij vogels: een functioneel-anatomische benadering.

摘要

The mechanism of avian respiration is still controversial. It is fundamentally different from respiration in mammals. Although during in- and expiration a continuous caudocranial airflow is present within the tertiary bronchi and the air capillaries of the avian lung, the air flow within the entire respiratory system is still equivocal. Several patterns explaining the air flow during in- and expiration have been proposed during the past century. Moreover, various anatomical structures and aerodynamic mechanisms have recently been described in an attempt to explain the proposed mechanisms of respiration. This manuscript gives an overview of the anatomy of the avian respiratory system and the hypotheses concerning the physiology of avian respiration.