Know your snake inside and out with this snake cardiovascular system anatomy overview. Show Snake Cardiovascular SystemThe three-chambered reptilian heart is composed of two atria, which receive blood from the lungs and body, and a large ventricle, which pumps blood into arteries. This heart is evolutionarily more basic than the mammalian four-chambered heart, but because of divisions and valves within the ventricle, the snake heart still functions as a four-chambered heart very similar to its mammalian counterparts. Snakes and other reptiles have an interesting adaptation to their cardiovascular system that mammals lack. It is called the renal portal system. In this type of system blood from the animal’s tail passes through the kidneys first before returning to the general body circulation. This may be significant, especially in sick reptiles, because many of the drugs used to treat infections are eliminated from the body through the kidneys. With certain drugs injected into a reptile’s tail or rear legs, the renal portal system may cause the medication to lose some of its effectiveness. Veterinarians must understand the drugs they are using and how best to administer them. Snake Respiratory System Anatomy>> Snake Immune System Anatomy>> Snake Gastrointestinal Tract Anatomy>>
The cardiovascular system of snakes is similar to other non-crocodilian reptiles but is modified for their linear shape. Systemic venous returnSnakes have both renal and hepatic portal circluations. Jugulars are located anterior to the heart near the trachea and may be cannulated by a cutdown procedure. The right jugular is larger than the left. Blood returns to the heart from the systemic circulation through the sinus venosus.
HeartThe position of the heart varies among species and, as there is no diaphragm, it is mobile within the ribcage. Heart position varies slightly with its ecological niche and phylogenetic position, and its mobility may facilitate the passage of relatively large prey (see snake feeding). The heart has three chambers: right and left atria and one ventricle. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation and the left receives oxygenated blood from lungs via the left and right pulmonary veins. The ventricle has internal ridges that enable a considerable functional separation between the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. It is divided into three subchambers: the cavum pulmonale, cavum venosum and cavum arteriosum. Snakes can control arterial pressure reflexly, but this is diminished when the body temperature is outside the preferred optimum temperature zone (POTZ). Oxygen dissociation curves of snake blood are also influenced by temperature. Systemic arteriesThere are two aortae that leave the heart - the right aorta exits from the left side of the ventricle and the left aorta from the right side. The aortae join caudal to the heart to form the abdominal aorta that extends caudally through the coelomic cavity. The left systemic arch is larger than the right, the opposite to most tetrapods. Carotids extend cranially from the heart and adjacent to the trachea. The jugulars may be easily cannulated by a cutdown for placement of an IV catheter.
For information on blood sample collection methods, see snake blood collection. For information on reptile surgery, see snake surgery. HaemocritThe normal packed cell volume of a snake ranges between 20% and 30%. The blood volume (based on the black ratsnake, Elaphe sp.) is equivalent to approximately 6% of the animal's body weight.
ReferencesMader, D.R. (2005). Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Saunders. pp. 47. ISBN 072169327X WebinarsEvery last drop: squeezing the most from your diureticsCongestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common causes of death in small animals and diuretics remain the cornerstone of therapy. However, despite decades of experience with furosemide, ve...Dave Dickson 2022-03-29 12:01:10Cardiomyopathy in cats: diagnosis and managementCardiomyopathy in cats covers a spectrum of different disease phenotypes and poses a number of challenges. In 2020, a consensus of experts put forward a statement on how best to approach cats with...Kieran Borgeat 2021-05-04 12:09:47A rational approach to using cardiac therapeuticsTreating animals with heart disease sometimes seems like an exercise in polypharmacy. But why do cardiologists recommend multiple medicines for dogs and cats with heart failure? And why might treat...Kieran Borgeat 2021-04-09 11:30:11Interventional cardiac surgery: cutting edge procedures for dogs with heart diseaseTBCKieran Borgeat 2021-02-25 08:32:41Catiomyopathies: An update on feline heart diseaseThis webinar is an update on feline heart disease aimed at primary care clinicians and nurses. We will cover the common forms of feline heart disease, how they may present, how to investigate suspe...James McMurrough 2021-02-17 14:41:49Caring for the big heart: An update on canine DCMThis session is a whistle stop tour of the basics of canine DCM aimed at primary care clinicians and nurses. We will cover the common causes of DCM, how they may present, how to investigate and ult...James McMurrough 2021-02-17 11:36:20Farm Animal CardiologyThis talk will cover some of the common and less common cardiac diseases seen in farm animal practice and will consider challenges with diagnosis, but also what you can achieve with the ultrasound...Professor. Gayle Hallowell 2020-12-10 13:28:10Conquering your fear of the ECG: a step by step guideElectrocardiography is an essential diagnostic tool for arrhythmias, which can alter the decision making cascade for numerous cardiac and non-cardiac disorders in clinical practice. However, readin...Kieran Borgeat 2020-10-02 08:05:02Diagnosing Heart Failure in General PracticeThis webinar will be a quick-fire approach to the diagnosis of heart failure in cats and dogs in first opinion practice.James McMurrough 2020-06-25 09:33:22Heart murmurs: when should I investigate?Physiologic flow murmurs (sometimes called “innocent” or “non-pathological” murmurs) are common in dogs and cats. In some populations of animals, flow murmur...Kieran Borgeat 2020-04-20 13:15:48 Does a snake have a single circulatory system?Despite the peculiar and complex circulation, lizards, snakes, and crocodilians have achieved a double system.
Do reptiles have a single or double loop circulatory system?Most non-avian reptiles have a three-chambered heart, but have little mixing of the blood; they have double circulation. Mammals and birds have a four-chambered heart with no mixing of the blood and double circulation.
What type of circulation does reptiles have?Other animals, such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, have a pulmonary circuit, where blood is pumped from the heart to the lungs and back, and a second, systemic circuit where blood is pumped to the body and back.
Do snakes have a cardiovascular system?Snakes and other reptiles have an interesting adaptation to their cardiovascular system that mammals lack. It is called the renal portal system. In this type of system blood from the animal's tail passes through the kidneys first before returning to the general body circulation.
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What type of circulatory system do snakes have?
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