In the fascinating world where animal adaptations inspire medical innovations, the humble frog stands out as a surprising model for life-saving respiratory technology.
A frog breathes just like a patient on a life-support machine or ventilator. Lacking a strong diaphragm, it inflates the flexible ‘buccal cavity’ in its throat. This air is then squeezed down into its lungs using positive pressure – the opposite of the normal negative pressure breaths used by all other animals, where air is instead sucked in.
The world’s first intensive-care patient, a 12-year-old girl suffering from severe polio, was kept alive in 1952 by the use of positive pressure ventilation. For months, teams of medical students squeezed an inflatable bag to fill her lungs with air, and she lived.
Discover our series on medical innovations rooted in nature's remarkable adaptations...
From ants' pandemic tactics and giraffe-inspired ventilators to koalas' digestive wisdom and frog-based life-support systems, we explore how the animal kingdom shapes human healthcare.
We also explore midge-like painless injections, crane-derived temperature control, white-blooded fish cold resistance, whale-mimicking heart treatments, chimpanzee-informed grief management, and longevity secrets from naked mole rats. Join us as we uncover how wildlife continues to revolutionise medicine.