Nothing Can Stop Octopuses: How Three Hearts Allow Them to Live Without a Pulse.

According to ТСН: Octopuses continue to astonish scientists with their remarkable physiology. Biologists have established that these cephalopods can remain active even when their heart temporarily slows down or stops, and this does not lead to serious consequences for their organism.

The key to such endurance lies in the unique structure of their circulatory system. Unlike mammals, octopuses have three hearts: two branchial hearts that pump blood through the respiratory organs and one systemic heart that distributes oxygen throughout the body. Even when the central heart stops for a short period, the branchial hearts continue to work, providing cells with oxygen.

The composition of their blood also plays an important role. In octopuses, oxygen is carried by hemocyanin—a copper-containing protein that is effective at low oxygen levels. It can deliver oxygen to tissues even with weak blood flow, allowing cells to maintain aerobic metabolism for longer without proper circulation.

Decentralized Nervous System

Another crucial aspect is the decentralized nervous system. More than half of an octopus's neurons are concentrated in its tentacles, which allows it to maintain basic movements and reactions even with limited blood supply to the brain. The animal can move, hold onto surfaces, and change its body position without losing useful functions.

Scientists believe that this ability is an adaptation to life in conditions where oxygen levels are unstable, such as in reefs, tidal pools, or narrow shelters. These mechanisms are of interest to medical researchers as they help to better understand how tissues can survive in hypoxic conditions and recover after temporary circulatory disturbances.

It should be noted that during an experiment, scientists discovered that after a single injection, mice disappeared. The key role was played by bacteria from the intestinal microbiome of frogs.

These findings concern not only marine inhabitants but may also serve as a foundation for new approaches in medicine. Understanding the ways octopuses adapt to stressful conditions could impact the treatment of hypoxia and other circulatory disorders in humans. This discovery highlights the importance of studying natural survival mechanisms in non-human creatures that can benefit humanity.