COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023

FORMED ELEMENTS
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
RBC/Erythrocytes WBC/Leukocytes Platelets

VERTEBRATE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM ● Have nuclei, ● Defend the ● Release factors

except in body from that produce a
➔ Set of connecting tubes and pumps that move fluid mammals infection and cascade of
➔ Response allows the organism to adjust to immediate ● Hemoglobin: disease events leading
physiological changes in physical and metabolic activity major oxygen to the formation
➔ Includes the blood and lymph vascular systems transport of a clot
molecule
● Vary in size:
FUNCTION 8um in
➔ Transports gases together with the respiratory system humans, 9um
➔ Adjusts to changes in pressure within the body in elephants,
➔ Transports excess heat produced within the body to the skin 80um in some
salamanders
to dissipate it ● Most live 3-4
➔ Conversely, a cool reptile basking in the sun gathers surface months in the
heat to warm its blood circulating
➔ Glucose and other products of digestion are carried to active blood before
being broken
organs for metabolic use down and
➔ Transports hormones to target organs and waste products to replaced
the kidneys
➔ Carries cells and chemicals of the immune system to defend
the body from invasion by foreign organisms BLOOD VESSELS
➔ Arteries
BLOOD ◆ Large arteries: considerable amounts of elastic fibers
➔ Produced by hemopoietic tissues in their walls, while small arteries have none
➔ Plasma: fluid ground substance of blood ◆ Function as a supply system that carries blood away
➔ Formed elements from the heart and out to body tissues
◆ Absorb and distribute the sudden surge of blood
when heart contracts
◆ Between contractions, the arterial walls recoil, driving
blood to the smaller arteries and into the arterioles
➔ Veins
◆ Return blood to the heart

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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
◆ Up to 70% of circulating blood within the body may
reside in veins
◆ Slight vasoconstriction of strategic veins effectively
decrease reserve volume and moves to arterial
circulation
◆ One way valves prevent retrograde blood flow
◆ Pressure changes (e.g. the pleural cavities) and
external forces squeeze the walls contribute to
venous flow
◆ In veins that pass through body organs and tissues,
one way valves are absent
➔ Microcirculation
◆ Regulates and supports cell metabolism intimately
◆ Formed by the capillary beds, the arterioles that
supply them, and the venules that drain them
◆ Precapillary sphincters: rings of smooth muscle
restricting the entrance to the capillary beds
◆ Nervous and hormonal control of the smooth
muscles regulate the flow of blood to the capillaries
◆ Capillary beds adjust blood flow to match cell activity
◆ Blood can be diverted through shunts that bypass
some regions entirely
➔ Pattern of Circulation
◆ Single Circulation
● Seen in most fishes
● Blood passes only once through the heart
during each complete circuit
● Blood moves from the heart to the gills to the
systemic tissues and back to the heart
◆ Double circulation
● Seen in amniotes
● Blood passes through the heart twice during
each circuit
● Blood travels from the heart to the lungs,
back to the heart, out to the systemic tissues,
and back to the heart a second time
● Its rise involved the addition of a pulmonary
circuit
◆ Intermediate pattern
● Have characteristics of both conditions
● Seen in lungfishes, amphibians, and reptiles
● Suggest the adaptive advantages of
transition onto land
PHYLOGENY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
➔ Variations are based on modifications of a fundamental plan
of common to vertebrates
➔ Usually highly modified in advanced forms
➔ Transition from water to land
◆ Gills give way to lungs -> establishment of
pulmonary circulation
➔ In some fishes and tetrapods, cardinal veins become less
involved in blood return
◆ Postcava arose to drain the posterior part of the
body
◆ Precava developed to drain the anterior part of the
body
AORTIC ARCHES
➔ In all vertebrates, two arches branching from the anterior
end of the ventral aorta
➔ Basic embryonic pattern of aortic arches have 6 pairs, true
for most gnathostomes and all tetrapods
➔ Exceptions to the basic patterns
◆ Some ostracoderms up to 10 pairs
◆ Lampreys 8 pairs
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
◆ Hagfishes 15 pairs
◆ Sharks 10-12 pairs
➔ Aortic arches in fishes
◆ Primarily for bringing blood from the heart -> ventral
aorta -> gills -> dorsal aorta -> rest of the body
◆ In adults: reduction of in number within the
superclass
◆ Primitive sharks: have greatest number
● First pair is lost or modified
◆ Most fishes: second pair is lost
◆ Internal carotid arteries arise from the anterior end of
the dorsal aortae
◆ External carotid arteries arise from the ventral aorta
➔ Aortic arches in lung fishes
◆ Have both lungs and gills
◆ Capillary beds of arch III and IV are lost
◆ Arches I and II are lost
◆ Arch III -> internal carotid only
◆ Arch VI -> pulmonary arteries supplying lungs
(lungfish) or swimbladders (coelacanths)
◆ Not very efficient, but has some ability to shunt blood
to regions needing oxygenated blood
➔ Aortic arches in amphibians
◆ Relies on lungs for respiration -> gills not important
in adults
◆ Arches I and II -> disappear early in development
◆ Frog larvae
● Arches III to VI deliver blood to the internal
gills
● Arch VI gives rise to pulmonary artery
◆ During metamorphosis, gills and arch V -> lost in
anurans, persist in some urodeles
◆ Adult frogs -> arches III, IV, and VI intact
◆ Dorsal link between III and IV -> lost in anurans;
become thin in urodeles
➔ Aortic arches in amphibians
◆ External carotid artery arise from anterior end of
ventral aorta
◆ Internal carotid artery derived from arch III
◆ Common carotid artery derived from section of
ventral aorta between arches III and IV
◆ Aortic arch IV persists to become the systemic
arches -> unite to form the dorsal aorta
◆ Pulmocutaneous artery: from the branches of arch VI
to supply the developing lung and the skin
◆ In salamander: arch V persists in a very reduced
form
◆ The lateral aorta between arches III and IV
degenerate completely
◆ Ductus arteriosus persists
◆ External gills (larva) supplies with loops connected to
aortic arches
◆ At the end of metamorphosis, gills degenerate and
vascular loops atrophy
◆ In Necturus (neotenic salamander)
● Gills persist throughout life
● Arch V persists and gives rise to pulmonary
artery instead of arch VI
➔ Aortic arches in reptiles
◆ Gills absent and replaced by lungs
◆ Retain aortic arches III, IV, and VI (same with
amphibians)
◆ Arch V may be retained in reduced form in certain
lizards
◆ Remnant of the radix (connections) between arches
III and IV may persist in some snakes
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
◆ In most reptiles, arches I, II, and V are lost
◆ Dorsal connection between III and IV disappears
◆ Arch III forms a part of the internal carotid arteries
◆ Anterior end of the ventral aorta form the external
carotid arteries
◆ Splitting of the distal portion of the conus arteriosus
and part of the ventral aorta into three vessels: left
systemic arch, right systemic arch (derived from arch
IV) and the pulmonary trunk
◆ Arch VI gives off pulmonary artery
◆ Right systemic arch -> arises from left side of
ventricle
◆ Left systemic -> arises from the right side of ventricle
◆ Mixing of blood is through Foramen of Panizza
◆ Mixing of blood associated with poikilothermal mode
of life
➔ Aortic arches in birds
◆ Only arches II, IV, and VI are retained in adults
◆ Ventral aorta splits into 2 portions: systemic aorta
and pulmonary trunk
◆ Arch IV leaves right the systemic aorta (together with
the radix) and leads to the dorsal aorta proper
◆ Left systemic aorta does not fully develop
◆ Pulmonary trunk arising from the right ventricle gives
off the pulmonary arteries (outgrowth) of arch VI
➔ Aortic arches in mammals
◆ Changes in the aortic arches similar to those of birds
◆ Only III, IV, and VI arches are retained in the adult
◆ Arch IV on the left side together with its radix
becomes the arch of the definitive aorta (left
systemic arch)
◆ Left subclavian develops as an enlargement of one
intersegmental arteries coming off the aorta (left
systemic arch)
◆ Carotid arteries are formed from the paired arch III
➔ Evolution of the Aortic Arches
◆ Basic six arch pattern includes
● Ventral aorta
● Paired aortic arches
● Paired dorsal aortae
◆ Selective loss or modification of underlying pattern
produces the derived aortic pattern of adult
vertebrates
◆ Fashed vessels are lost in the adult
VENOUS CIRCULATION
➔ Comparative account in various vertebrate groups show
arrangement according to the same fundamental plan as
arteries
➔ Venous system of higher forms passes through certain
stages common to the embryos of lower forms
➔ Three major sets of paired veins are present in the early
developmental stage
◆ Vitelline veins from the yolk sac
◆ Cardinal veins from the body of the embryo
◆ Lateral abdominal veins from the pelvic region
➔ Vitelline veins
◆ Hepatic sinusoid and hepatic veins
➔ Cardinal Veins
◆ Anterior cardinal vein
◆ Posterior cardinal vein
◆ Common cardinal vein (Duct of Cuvier)
➔ Lateral Abdominal Veins
◆ Present in fishes
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
◆ Absent (or merged) in tetrapods
➔ Hepatic portal vein
◆ Present in all vertebrates
◆ Developed from the embryonic subintestinal vein
which loops to eventually join the left vitelline vein
VENOUS CIRCULATION IN FISHES
➔ Many primitive features are retained
➔ Sinus venosus receives duct of Cuvier on each side
➔ Anterior cardinal or jugular vein
◆ Brings blood to the duct of Cuvier from the dorsal
side of head region
➔ Interior jugular veins
◆ From the ventrolateral part of the head also enters
the common cardinal veins
◆ Lacking in polypterus: fused in Lepisosteus
➔ Common cardinal also receives a postcardinal vein from the
posterior end of the body
➔ Subclavian and iliac veins
◆ Bring blood from the pectoral and pelvic fins
◆ Fishes are the first vertebrates to possess paired
appendages
➔ Iliac veins join the lateral abdominals which course in the
body wall to join the common cardinal
➔ Posterior wall of the sinus venosus receives two hepatic
veins
➔ Subintestinal walls lost its connection with the caudal vein
➔ Development of the opisthonephric kidneys
◆ Postcardinals grow backward dorsal to the kidneys,
ultimately to unite with the caudal vein
➔ Subcardinal veins develop ventral to the kidney
➔ Blood in the caudal vein may pass into the postcardinals
directly or indirectly through the subcardinal renal veins
➔ Advancement in teleosts involve an interruption of each
postcardinal vein so that anterior and posterior portions are
no longer continuous
➔ Blood from the tail passes through the kidneys (renal portal
veins) to enter the subcardinal veins
➔ Postcardinals join the duct of Cuvier and receive veins from
the gonads
➔ After the renal portal circulation is established, blood flows
through the renal veins in reverse direction. This is evident
up to elasmobranchs.
➔ In teleosts
◆ Lateral abdominal veins are not present
◆ Subcardinal enters the common cardinals
◆ The iliacs join the postcardinal
◆ Veins from the swim bladder usually join the hepatic
portal vein (in some with the postcardinal veins)
➔ In Polypterus
◆ Veins from the swim bladder join the hepatic veins
directly
➔ In Dipnoans
◆ Pulmonary veins from the swim bladder enter the
newly formed left atrium of the heart
◆ Double circulation appears for the first time
VENOUS CIRCULATION IN LUNG FISHES
➔ Show connecting links between amphibians and fishes
➔ In Epiceratodus (Australian Lungfish)
◆ Anterior abdominal vein (similar to amphibians)
appear
◆ Lateral abdominal veins fused to form anterior
abdominal vein and enters the sinus venosus
◆ Iliac joins with renal portal and pelvic vein -> joins
the anterior abdominal
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
◆ Right postcardinal
● Becomes much larger than the left side
● Connection with caudal vein is retained
● Larger right vessel is now called the
postcaval vein
● Passes through the liver and enters the left
duct of Cuvier
◆ Protopterus (African Lungfish) lacks an anterior
abdominal vein, but resembles more closely with
amphibians than that of Epiceratodus
➔ more to right
VENOUS CIRCULATION IN AMPHIBIANS
➔ In amphibians
◆ Renal portal and hepatic portal systems are of close
association
◆ Pulmonary veins enter the left atrium (as in Dipnoi)
➔ In lungless salamanders
◆ Pulmonary veins absent; left atrium is reduced in
size
➔ Ducts of Cuvier
◆ Originally received subclavian, jugular, and
postcardinal veins
◆ Further consolidated -> now called the precaval
veins
➔ Precaval vein enters the sinus venosus on each side
➔ Jugular vein has external and internal tributaries
➔ Cutaneous respiration are highly developed in amphibians
◆ Large cutaneous veins join the subclavians to enter
the sinus venosus
➔ Urodele (caudates) and anurans (salientians)
◆ Similar but exhibit certain differences in the
arrangement of the postcaval postcardinal complex
◆ In most caudates and a few salientians, the anterior
portions of the postcardinals persist in reduced form
connecting the middle portion of the postcava with
the duct of Cuvier on each side
◆ In most adult anurans, the anterior portions of the
postcardinals usually disappear
VENOUS CIRCULATION IN REPTILES
➔ Following further partitioning of the heart
➔ The large systemic veins entering the heart have shifted
➔ Precavae -> the original ducts of Cuvier
◆ Anterior portion of the jugular, subclavian, and
postcardinal have degenerated into two small
vertebral veins
➔ In snakes, the subclavians are lacking
➔ Anterior abdominal vein joins the hepatic portal veins
anteriorly
➔ Importance of the renal portal vein has diminished
➔ Direct channels may pass through the kidneys, connecting
renal portal and postcaval veins
➔ Pulmonary circulation has assumed greater importance
➔ Depending upon the asymmetrical development of the
respiratory organs, pulmonary veins show discrepancies in
size in various forms
➔ One pulmonary vein may be entirely absent in certain
snakes (left lobe of lung is absent)
➔ The reptilian postcava is derived partly from the
subcardinals and partly from the vitelline veins
➔ Postcardinals have disappeared
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
VENOUS CIRCULATION IN BIRDS
➔ Sinus venosus
◆ Incorporated in the wall of the right atrium
◆ The two precavae and single postcava enter the right
atrium directly
➔ Each precava is formed by the meeting of subclavian and
jugular veins
➔ Original postcardinal connection is no longer in existence
➔ Postcava
◆ Chief pathway for the return of blood from the
posterior part of the body
◆ Receives blood directly from the limbs via renal
portal veins
➔ Hepatic veins joins postcava as it nears the heart
➔ Caudal vein is greatly reduced
➔ Inferior mesenteric (coccygeomesenteric) connects the
caudal vein with the hepatic portal vein
➔ Epigastric vein carries blood from the great omentum to one
of the hepatic veins
VENOUS CIRCULATION IN MAMMALS
➔ Clear shifting of the main venous channels to right side is
evident
➔ Two precavae are present, but in others it may be joined. On
each side receives jugular and subclavian vein, now called
the brachiocephalic (innominate) vein
➔ Part of the anterior end of the right postcardinal persists as
azygos vein and drains the intercostal muscles and enters
the precava.
➔ Postcava
◆ Greatest change: considerably simplified
➔ No trace of a renal portal system in adults; all blood from the
posterior end of the body is collected by the postcava
➔ Anterior abdominal vein has disappeared, only found in the
monotreme (Echnida)
➔ Only the left umbilical vein persists, passing thru the liver as
the ductus venosus to join the postcava before it enters the
heart
➔ Hepatic portal vein is similar to the hepatic portal vein of
lower forms
HEART
VERTEBRATE HEART
➔ A modified blood vessel with highly muscular walls
➔ Valves prevent backflow of blood
➔ Consists of three layers
◆ Endocardium: inner lining (endothelium and elastic
tissues)
◆ Myocardium: middle layer (muscular layer)
◆ Epicardium: outer fibrous tunica, covered by visceral
pericardium
➔ Pulsates due to the response of the muscle cells to
electrolytes
EVOLUTION OF VERTEBRATE HEART
➔ From a primitive, simple, straight tube in the protochordates
-> the sinus multi-chambered organ seen in fishes ->
partially subdivided, but simple structure of early tetrapods
-> compact, highly efficient structure of birds and mammals
➔ Evolution of heart reflects changes in other structures,
particularly in respiratory organs
◆ Protochordate stage: ailmentary pharynx
◆ Piscine stage: branchial pharynx
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
◆ Early tetrapod stage: primitive lungs
◆ Late tetrapod stage of higher ectotherms
◆ Stage of endothermic tetrapods
EARLY TETRAPOD HEART
PROTOCHORDATE HEART
➔ Possess a simple, tubular heart that beats by peristaltic
waves
➔ Arteries are more muscularized than veins -> the primitive
heart
◆ Musuclarization of arteris -> significant in forcing
blood into the the smaller vessels (capillaries) from
which blood may return back without special means
of propulsion
➔ Protochordate stage does not need, a more specialized
heart due to lack of proper respiratory function of pharyngeal
clefts
➔ Pharyngeal clefts primarily serve as a sieve in capturing the
food
EARLY VERTEBRATE HEART
➔ The most primitive vertebrate heart
➔ Two main chambers: atrium and ventricle
➔ Two other chambers: sinus venosus and conus arteriosus
◆ Lamprey: elasmobranchs and holosteans
◆ Teleosts: known as bulbous arteriosus
➔ Teleosts: blood flows flow the ventricle into the bulbous
arteriosus, which expands each time the blood is pumped
➔ Blood pressure is generated in the ventricle
◆ Much higher than what is required in the thin walled
gills
◆ Bulbous arteriosus regulates the pressure as it
enters the gills
➔ Teleosts synchronize opercular movement with the pulsation
of the heart so that a steady flow of blood is maintained
➔ Initiated by the development of air bladder in pretetrapod
ancestors
➔ Gradually, the air bladder became specialized as seen in the
present day lungfishes (sarcoptygerians)
➔ Lungfishes
◆ Primarily use gills for respiration but when outside
water, adopts a vascularized lung in breathing air
➔ Aerated blood does not supply the blood directly
◆ Returns to the heart via a single pulmonary vein
◆ Opens on the left side of the atrium from where it is
pumped into systemic circulation
➔ Blood after circulation comes back via the sinus venosus
which has shifted to the right side of the heart
➔ Partial separation of the two chambers in the conus
arteriosus
◆ Serving to the direct the aerated blood (from the left
side) into the anterior vessels of the ventral aorta
◆ Non aerated blood (from the right side) directed into
the pulmonary arteries
➔ Formation of a pulmonary and a systemic chamber in the
conus arteriosus
➔ In amphibians that have functional lungs:
◆ Heart consists of three chambers
◆ Atrium completely divided into right and left aorta
◆ A ventricle
◆ A sinus venosus and conus arteriosus which is
partially divided with the help of a spiral valve
➔ In frogs
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
◆ Conus arteriosus arises from single trabeculate
ventricle
➔ Semilunar valves
◆ Lie at the base of conus arteriosus
◆ Prevent the backflow of the blood into the ventricle
➔ Spiral valve: twisting almost through a complete rotation
establishes chambers within the conus arteriosus that target
blood to the systemic and pulmocutaneous arches
➔ Source of oxygenated blood vary in amphibians
◆ Depend on the skin, gills, lungs, or on all the three
modes
◆ Reason for heart structure to vary in different
amphibians
➔ In lungless salamanders
◆ Septum dividing the atrium as well as spiral valve
may be much reduced or entirely absent
➔ In Necturus
◆ Gills dominate as respiratory organs
◆ Interatial septum is reduced or perforated
➔ In modern anurans and in all living reptiles, birds, and
mammals, atrium is completely divided
➔ Reduction of sinus venosus both in size and importance as
a blood-gathering chamber
◆ Sinus venosus into which the blood can flow against
an absolute minimum of resistance is essential for
fishes
◆ In land-dwelling vertebrates (lesser atmospheric
pressure), an elaborate collecting device is not
essential
➔ In amphibians
◆ Deoxygenated and oxygenated blood returning are
kept separate as they pass through the heart
◆ Deoxygenated blood is selectively directed to the
lung via pulmonary artery
◆ Oxygenated blood is directed to the systemic tissue
via aortic arches
➔ In frogs during air breathing
◆ Trabeculae in the ventricle separate the two different
streams of blood in the heart
◆ One stream fills the compartments between the
trabeculae, and the second stream occupies the
centre of the ventricle -> oxygenated and
deoxygenated streams depart by different exists to
reach the appropriate set of arteries
➔ When frog dives in the water
◆ Lung collapses from the water pressure on the body
wall
◆ Blood flow is reduced in the lungs and increased in
the skin
◆ Loss of pulmonary respiration is compensated by
increased cutaneous respiration in submerged frogs
LATE ECTOTHERM HEART
➔ Living reptiles varied in cardiac structure
➔ Exhibit numerous improvements over early tetrapod heart
➔ Most are adapted to a fully terrestrial environment and have
more active lifestyle
➔ Cardiovascular system supports higher metabolic rates and
elevated levels of oxygen and carbon-dioxide transport
➔ Capable of generating higher cardiac output, elevated blood
pressures and more efficient separation of oxygenated and
deoxygenated bloodstreams
➔ Two types of reptilian hearts have been recognized:
chelonians and squamates, and crocodiles
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COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023
➔ In chelonian/squamate heart
◆ Sinus venosus is reduced in size (compared to
amphibians)
◆ Sinus venosus remain as a site of origin of heartbeat
◆ Excitatory tissue remained embedded in the wall of
right atrium
◆ This myogenic center is the sinoatrial node
➔ Conus arteriosus also disappeared
◆ Subdivided to form the trunks of three large arteries,
leaving the ventricle: the pulmonary trunk and the
right and left aortic trunks
◆ Semilunar valves that conus formerly possessed
remained intact and unchanged
➔ Atrium
◆ Divided into left and right atria
◆ Guarded by the atrioventricular nodes
➔ Ventricle
◆ Partially divided internally resulting in a rather
selective separation of venous and arterial blood
◆ Has three interconnected compartments: cavum
venosum, cavum pulmonale, cavum arteriosum
➔ Pattern of the blood flow through hearts of chelonian and
squamates varies depending on whether they breathe air or
hold their breath
➔ When turtle is air breathing on land, most of the
deoxygenated blood returning from systemic tissues is
directed to the lungs and most of the oxygenated blood from
the lungs is directed to the systemic tissues via aortic trunk
➔ When the turtle dives in the water, the heart responds with a
right to left cardiac shunt
◆ Blood flowing in the cavum venosum is directed to
the aortae rather than the pulmonary circuit
◆ Shunting is controlled by the difference in the
resistance of systemic and pulmonary circuits
➔ Structural variations in the heart of crocodiles
➔ Ventricle is completely divided into right and left chambers
by a complete interventricular system
➔ Pulmonary trunk and left aortic arch opens off the right
ventricle
➔ Right aortic arch opens off the left ventricle
➔ Left arch does not receive blood directly from its own (right)
ventricle
◆ Semilunar valves prevent flow from ventricle to aorta
except under unusual stress situation
➔ Left arch receives blood through foramen of Panizza
ENDOTHERM HEART
➔ Only a few slight alterations have occurred in endotherms
➔ Most important is the complete closure of ventricular wall
➔ The trend towards double circulation in the heart was
initiated in the sarcopterygians
➔ Closure of the ventricles and simplification of the systemic
aorta -> “forced draft” respiratory mechanism unique to birds
and mammals
◆ Responsible for their endothermic condition
➔ In birds, sinus venosus is reduced but remains a small
discrete area
➔ Conus arteriosus gives rise to the pulmonary trunk and a
single aortic trunk
ENDOTHERM HEART: MAMMALS
➔ Sinus venosus
◆ Reduced to a patch of Purkinje fibers (sinoatrial
node) in the wall of right atrium
◆ Acts as a pacemaker, initiating wave of contraction
10
COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
COMPANA (Lecture)
BIOMED | PROF. ROSITA GAN | SEM 2 2023

➔ Atrioventricular node
◆ Located in the wall of right atrium
◆ Also acts as pacemaker when the sinoatrial node is
destroyed or prevented from functioning
➔ Conus arteriosus
◆ Splits to produce the pulmonary trunk and single
aortic trunk of the adult
◆ Similar to that of birds
➔ Possesses only two of three valves present in piscine
ancestors
◆ Semilunar valves and atrioventricular valves
➔ Avian and mammalian heart
◆ Although structure is similar, both evolved from
different reptilian groups
➔ Difference is reflected in their embryonic development
➔ Similarity in function
◆ Consists of parallel pumps with double circuits
◆ Right side of heart gathers deoxygenated blood from
systemic tissues
◆ Left side of heart pumps oxygenated blood from the
lungs
◆ No cardiac shunting as hearts are divided into right
and left chambers

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