| Abstract: | Myoglobin content is found to be higher in skeletal than in cardiac muscle of Tursiops truncatus and Phocaena phocaena and much higher than that in skeletal muscles of terrestrial mammals. According to the myoglobin content muscle fibres are devided into five types: red, white and three intermediate types. Deep muscles contain more red fibres and less intermediate fibres than superficial ones. White fibres compose almost one half of all fibres of the superficial skeletal muscles of the dolphins. The role of myoglobin distribution and higher content in oxygen supply of muscular tissue is discussed in relation to the peculiarities of dolphin breathing and blood circulation. |
