Question

Foramen of Panizza is found in the heart of
A. Rabbit
B. Crocodile
C. Pigeon
D. Frog

Answer 1

It is a hole that is seen in organisms of order Crocodilia that connects the left and right aorta as they leave the heart of all animals. These organisms have a completely separated ventricle with deoxygenated blood flowing from the body into the right ventricle and oxygenated blood from the lungs, into the left ventricle.

Complete answer: The foramen of Panizza is a hole that connects the left and the right aorta. The deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle, located in the left aorta flows into the right aorta through the foramen of ‘Panizza’. When the heart is relaxed, some of the oxygenated blood from the left ventricle, located in the right aorta flows into the left aorta across the foramen of Panizza. Some species of Crocodilians have regulatory sphincters to prevent the unwanted flow of blood through the foramen of Panizza. This connection works when the crocodile holds its breath. The connection which exists between the arterial and venous circulation by way of this foramen of ‘Panizza’ opens between two vessels leading separately from the ventricles. The foramen of ‘Panizza is named’ after Bartolomeo Panizza who was the first person who described “foramen of Panizza”. So, from the above-given options, it is clear that foramen of ‘Panizza’ is found in the heart of a crocodile and not in the heart of a rabbit, pigeon and frog.
So the correct answer is option B.

Note: The ‘foramen of Panizza’ helps in stabilizing the blood oxygen when the crocodile is submerged. It also allows blood to bypass the lungs, while the organism is submerged.