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Giraffes and the awesomeness of God!
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Giraffes and the awesomeness of God! |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois 
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Doing a search tonight on a homework assignment for my daughter, left me in awe of God. The animal she is researching happens to be the Giraffe. I found many websites, pictures, and information on them. As I sat down to dinner and gathered the papers, and started to read some of it to her, I found I couldn't put it down. I was in amazement at what God has done! Because of the long neck of the giraffe it has to bend to get water, and it made me chuckle when it said it's baffled scientists why the giraffe wouldn't pass out from the rush of blood to the head when it bends over. I shall write what they said here, the whole of this made me stop and think of what work and thought and intricacy went into it all. What an awesome God we have! How does the giraffe pump blood all the way up to its brain? Even more critical, how when the giraffe bends down nearly twenty feet to drink-does it prevent a fatal rush of blood into the cranial cavity and-when it raises the head up again-a dizzying depletion of blood? In 1955 a team darted the animals with curare, and erected a steel scaffolding around them, then surgically implanted catheters into their carotid arteries with an instrument to take blood pressure readings. In the 60's they lassoed the giraffes, then inserted into each neck several instruments attached to a radio transmitter. What they discovered was a circulatory system exquisitely adapted to its peculiar shape. (would you expect anything less from God)? The giraffes heart is an enormous two feet long and twenty-five pounds, with muscular walls several inches thick, driving the highest blood pressure known in any mammal. Twice that of ours. The heart beats up to 170 times a minute. (that's double our own) The secret of the giraffes physiological equanimity lies in its blood vessels. The elastic walls of the lengthy carotid artery help force blood upward, then swell to absorb excess fluid when the head is lowered; in addition, each inch-wide-plus jugular vein contains a series of one-way valves that prevent backflow of the blood when the giraffe's head is down. When the head snaps back up, the pumping of the massive heart keeps blood flow constant. (who else could have thought of something like this besides God)? Below the heart, the problem is the opposite: gravity easily pulls the blood six feet or so down to the tips of its hooves. But with nearly a ton or more of weight resting on four slim limbs, why doesn't the blood accumulate in the tissues around the extremities, giving the giraffe swollen ankles? When the animal is moving, contracting muscles help squeeze the blood into the veins. When the animal is still, yet another set of circulatory adaptions applies the pressure necessary to keep the blood flowing. Unlike the thin vessels near the brain, the arteries near the feet are thick walled and slightly less elastic, to decrease the downward blood pressure and keep them from ballooning. Arterial muscles also work hard to prevent fluid buildup in the feet. The final trick is the giraffe's skin. It fits so tightly on their body that Dr. Alan Hargens, has discovered that fetal giraffes, while suspended in a near weightless state in the 'sack,' also have thin blood vessels in their legs; but when they are born and enter the gravity field that is earth, the vessels start to thicken. I hope I didn't gross anyone out! But I found this really COOL! This really left me in Awe of God tonight. How He so intricately puts things to work that baffle us. How He designed all of this to work, so they could bend over and get a drink without killing themselves. All this inside art work that we rarely ever think about it, but it keeps on working without a thought from us. We have much to be thankful for!! <*\\\>< I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future. |
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BSC
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-02-04
Posts 2919New York, USA |
Amazing Becky....It sure does make one stand in awe of His wonderful creations, doesn't it! Thanks for sharing this, my sons will enjoy hearing about it. Bonnie |
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Lighthousebob Member Elite
since 2000-06-14
Posts 4725California |
 Yep, Giraffes are cool how God made them with long necks with all the proper accommodations. God is real smart to know how to make a giraffe, I know that I couldn't do it. Like you, I guess that giraffes are really kind because they have such big hearts? A very informative piece of information you've shared. God Bless You, Bob <><[This message has been edited by Lighthousebob (edited 09-29-2000).] |
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ellie LeJeune Member Elite
since 2000-01-10
Posts 4156King of Prussia, PA USA |
Thanks Becky; My husband and I love to watch the discovery chanel. Isn't God amazing? Love, Ellie |
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Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
WhiteDove~ Well ... guess we're never too old to learn, huh ?  What I like best about the giraffe is that God made the most amazing canvas on which to paint the intricate patterns of this amazing creature. Thanks for the info. ~*Marge*~ ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~ noles1@totcon.com |
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sandgrain Member Elite
since 1999-09-21
Posts 3662Sycamore, IL, USA |
Wow! I'd thought God made long necks on the giraff, just to make us laugh. Everything we learn about in nature, prompts us to praise His awesomeness. Thanks for enlightening us. |
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deleeme Senior Member
since 1999-10-09
Posts 1766NEW ENGLAND, USA |
Becky, Thanks for taking the time and going to the trouble to share these awesome discoveries which help reflect on the Power/wisdom and forethought of our loving caring God. He truly leaves nothing to chance, and nothing takes Him by surprize. I enjoyed the excursion--Thank you, David WOW- another day of life-and here among friends! Ain't God Grand! |
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