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Daily Digest Archive for June 3, 2003
Q: (Initially posted on June 2, 2003) FROM MENTEE
JOSIE M. IN CA
I have a question regarding something someone told me
that I find highly unlikely of happening. I was
informed that a chicken who had its head cut off lived
for months. Is there any truth to this story, and if
there is, how is it possible? Even if autonomic
parts of the brain that allow the body to maintain
homeostasis, like the medulla oblongata, were not cut
off, wouldn't there still be a substantial amount of
blood loss that would keep the chicken from living?
And what about other factors (e.g. food, water,
antigens)that would require a fully functional
chicken? |
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June 3, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR SHARON ROSH
IN NC
To answer the question about a chicken living for months or
years after
the head is cut off is a falsehood. The person who told you
that was
incorrect. Sometimes chickens can run around for a few minutes
after
decapitation, but then they die just like any of us would.
All the
questions you posed about eating and nutrition after death
show me that
you really thought about this and realize that such as statement
is
false. Neat question. I hope the answer coincides with your
sense that
it would be impossible for a chicken to live without its head!!
********************
A: FROM MENTER DESIREE BUTTER
IN PA
Josie,
The story is true. It is the story of Mike the Headless Chicken.
You can
read more about him at the following website:
http://www.miketheheadlesschicken.org/story.htm.
He was able to live because
the brainstem was left intact which controls autonomic functions.
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