Researchers at the Atlanta zoo to observe dozens of mammal species - from mice to elephants - micturition behavior, discovered an interesting fact: they spent almost the same length of time to urinate, or approximately 21 seconds. The research is published in the journal of the National Academy of Sciences, uncover the secrets of urination hydrodynamics help engineers build better flow regulation device.
Georgia Institute of Technology mechanical engineer David Hu is one of the authors of this paper. Mammalian behavior urination idea came from his two young children to experience changing diapers. While observing mammalian urination, urination length of time each record is relatively easy, but it is difficult to measure the flow rate. They need to collect urine, it is not too easy to do this. First, there is no aura animals urinate, have to seize the opportunity to start recording. Secondly, in order to obtain accurate traffic data, you need a complete collection of all urine, and all this needs to be manually operated. "Sometimes can not avoid urine splash on the high-speed camera", Hu said:. "A complete collection of urine it very easy, we cut the bottles, because there must be a hand-held container may also in the animal kingdom prepare urination moment, and quickly knelt down and extended a hand to the bottles handed exact position. this is the only viable solution, we have to try to pick the pot, the pot does not like animals, I feel strange we also tried the dish, the same animals were also strange that plate. "
In addressing the problem of accurate measurement of animal urine output, the researchers also studied the YouTube video, combing the literature, compare the volume of these mammals bladder, urethral length and cross-sectional area.
Compared to humans, small mammals like mice exhibit a completely different way of urination: urine discharge is not continuous, but a small share of a small share. Hu explained that the urine of small animals is not so much the amount is insufficient to form a continuous flow of urine. If the animal weighing over 6.6 lbs (about 3 kg), will be able to store a sufficient amount of urine, and the use of similar mechanisms excreted to a continuous flow mode.
Although some animals bladder volume is large (elephant will be able to urinate once filled the kitchen trash can), but all mammals, from cats, goats to elephants, a bladder emptying time is about 21 seconds, plus or minus range 13 seconds. Such a deviation is mainly due to the sometimes animals urination for other purposes, such as male animals often use urine marking territory, some mice will urinate against the enemy when the art.
Even so, Hu said mammal voiding time is still quite stable and close. For the elephant, its 18 liters bladder volume than the volume of the bladder is about 3600 times more than cats, but the elephant will not spend 3600 times longer emptying. This means that the elephant must be big enough to let the urine at high speed through the urethral pressure, in order to get smaller and cats have the same bladder emptying.
Elephants can quickly design secrets from the urethra urination, which makes full use of the advantages of gravity of urine, the longer the urethra, the faster the flow rate, it is like the bottom of the deep pool the greater the pressure on the same reason, full of urine urethral pressure will be pressed against the bottom of the forming tube, at the same time, large mammals are also many large caliber urethra, urination This creates a "highway."
Learn voiding time has important health significance, Hu said, prostate cancer or obesity disease is problematic urethral pressure, they are generally longer than the normal voiding time, if such a situation occurs, it should be noted that there is not a health problem.
The study has major significance is to find what kind of animals and humans have the closest urination mechanism, so that it can carry out research for the benefit of human beings in the laboratory. And this animal is not likely to mice.
How to understand the different dimensions of the urinary system works, we can help engineers design better pipeline flow regulation system for use in a toilet cistern or water-saving aspects. (Compiled: I love via latimes)
The entire contents of a user on Baidu know daily newspaper published a third party is strictly prohibited reproduced. Any third party to use the content, you must contact Baidu know daily zhidaoribao@baidu.com, obtain written authorization to use the content and in the manner prescribed.
Article Source: Baidu know daily (http://zhidao.baidu.com/daily)
Original link: http: //zhidao.baidu.com/daily/view id = 577?