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purring |
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purring a physiologically very complicated, semi-automatic, cyclic, controlled respiration involving alternating activity of the diaphragm and intrinsic laryngeal muscles in cats. The frequency of the alternation is about 25 times per second. Each cycle includes three phases of glottal closing, glottal opening with sound produced, further glottal opening with rapid airflow and low resistance at the glottis. Purring occurs when cats are contented, sick or sleeping. It also provides the equivalent of complementary breaths during periods of shallow breathing. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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