Pressure assists blood circulation: giraffe

1 of 1 Giraffe Horizontal / Maria O'Farr.. / License

Tight skin of giraffe legs assists blood circulation by creating extravascular pressure.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Could be used to design fluid transport systems in buildings and machinery. Could be used for medical purposes to improve blood circulation.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Its [giraffe's] heart is two-and-a-half times as big as zoologists would expect for an animal of its size. And the skin around its legs is unusually tight. Pedley [Tim Pedley of the University of Cambridge] says that high blood pressure would encourage blood to pool in a giraffe's legs. The tight skin acts like a support stocking, forcing blood back up into the body." (Thomas 1997:24)

About the inspiring organism

giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis (Linnaeus, 1758)
[Giraffe]

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Habitat(s): Forest, Savanna, Shrubland

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Could be used to design fluid transport systems in buildings and machinery. Could be used for medical purposes to improve blood circulation.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Construction, medical

Experts

Biological Mechanics Group
Timothy J. Pedley
Department of Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), University of Cambridge.

References

Thomas, Jim. 1997. A heart for heights. New Scientist. (2100): 24.

Pressure assists blood circulation: giraffe

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