Final answer:
Marine mammals avoid decompression sickness through mechanisms like lung collapse and anatomical adaptations. There have been cases of marine mammals, particularly those in captivity, experiencing decompression sickness-like symptoms when surfacing too rapidly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins, have adapted various mechanisms to avoid decompression sickness (DCS), also known as 'the bends.' When diving, these animals have the ability to control their dive profile and adjust their buoyancy to minimize the risk of DCS. One mechanism is lung collapse, where marine mammals collapse their lungs to reduce the amount of gas inhaled and prevent excess nitrogen absorption. The absorbed nitrogen can cause bubbles to form during ascent, leading to DCS.
Additionally, marine mammals have anatomical adaptations such as flexible rib cages and collapsible air sacs that allow for compression and expansion during diving, helping to prevent gas bubble formation and DCS. It's important to note that while these adaptations reduce the risk of decompression sickness, marine mammals are not entirely immune to it. There have been cases of marine mammals, particularly those in captivity, experiencing decompression sickness-like symptoms when surfacing too rapidly. Studying these adaptations in marine mammals provides valuable insights for understanding the physiological challenges of deep-sea diving.
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