How Many Chambered Hearts do The Crocodiles Have

Introduction

The heart is a muscular organ which is responsible for pumping blood throughout an organism’s body. A heart-like structure first appears in the Phylum Annelida and then goes onto the Class Mammalia, increasing in complexity as it moves forward. For instance, Pisces have a two-chambered heart, birds have a three-chambered heart, reptiles have a three-chambered heart, and mammals have a four-chambered heart. In this article, we will look into the heart of a crocodile, for crocodile tears may be fake, but the heart never lies.

About Crocodile’s Heart

Belonging to the Reptilia Class of the Animal Kingdom, Crocodiles are the most unique and advanced forms of reptiles to have existed within the class. Unlike other reptiles which only have a three-chambered heart, crocodiles possess a four-chambered heart.They have Left and Right Auricles in upper chambers and Left and Right Ventricles In Lower chambers. Advantage of having a four-chambered heart is that no mixing of blood (oxygenated blood with deoxygenated blood) is taking place.This in turn promotes them from cold-blooded reptiles to warm-blooded ones.

Structure of a Crocodile’s Heart

A crocodile’s heart contains four chambers like a human heart. It has two completely separated ventricles and two atria as compared to a normal reptilian heart with one ventricle and two atria. In addition to the usual system aorta emerging from the left ventricle, a crocodile’s heart also contains a second aorta which goes out of the right ventricle near the pulmonary artery. The two aortae meet at an interconnecting aperture near the valves of the two ventricles, called the Foramen of Panizza. This foramen allows the mixing of blood outside the ventricles, which helps the crocodile adapt as a superior reptile.

Advantages of Having a Four-Chambered Heart as a Reptile

As a reptile, crocodiles have to spend a lot of their time underwater. The minor difference in their heart structure from their fellow reptiles sets them up to survive longer underwater. The four-chambered heart facilitates the retention of oxygen for longer periods underwater by reducing the heart rate up to 2-3 beats per minute.

Conclusion

A crocodile encases a four-chambered heart in its body. This sets it apart from other reptiles which possess hearts with only three chambers. This adaptation is a result of evolution which needed the later reptiles to survive better underwater and on the surface. Due to its unique shape, a crocodile’s heart allows the creature to dwell for longer periods underwater. This is achieved by increasing the oxygen retention capacity of the heart and reducing the beating rate to as low as 2 to 3 beats per minute.