Sacos aéreos em Gallus gallus

Abstract

The respiratory system of birds presents important evolutionary adaptations, among them the presence of chambers that store and renew air, called air sacs. These sacs, in addition to participating in respiration, help reduce body weight, facilitating flight. The objective of the work developed by the academics of the extension project "Knowing, respecting and producing birds: didactic and alternative models in the teaching and learning process", linked to the discipline Anatomy of Domestic Animals (BA065) of the Zootechnics course at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), was to demonstrate morphologically and topographically this very particular structure of birds. The study describes the location of each air sac in the bird's body, organizing them into two groups: cranial and caudal. The caudal group is composed of 2 caudal thoracic air sacs and 2 abdominal air sacs, and the cranial group presents 2 cervical air sacs, 1 clavicular air sac, and 2 cranial thoracic air sacs. The communication of these sacs with the lung through the ostium is also described. During inspiration, air enters through the trachea, travels to the main and secondary bronchi, and initially reaches the caudal air sacs. During expiration, the airflow reverses, allowing for continuous ventilation of the lungs.