Bighorn Sheep Are Concussion-Proof Thanks to Intelligent Design of their Heads
by Owen Borville
July 11, 2020
Biology
The thick, long, curved horns atop the heads of bighorn sheep, or rams of western North America help prevent brain injury and concussion in these animals that routinely "ram" their heads against each other at speeds of 20 to 40 miles per hour. Their brains are well-protected despite the constant impacts among these animals, who do not sustain concussions or even a headache. Bighorn sheep have very thick skulls that help prevent fracture.
Bighorn sheep range from five to six feet long, four feet tall, 260 to 280 pounds, and their horns weigh up to 30 pounds, which is as much as the rest of the bones in the body. The horns can grow to three feet long and over one foot in circumference. Female bighorn sheep have smaller horns and weigh significantly less.
The force impact of bighorn sheep ramming their heads is 10 times greater than that of two football football players, researchers note. So how do bighorn sheep keep from getting concussions?
Scientists believe that the brains of bighorn sheep are naturally protected against impacts with mechanisms that slow the return of blood from the head to the body, which increases the amount of blood in the brain's "vascular trees", known as the Bubble Wrap Effect. This keeps the brains from being shaken around as much. Hollow cores attached to its respiratory system allow it to rebreathe its air and increase carbon dioxide in its bloodstream.
The horns are made out of a protein called keratin, a very spongy, elastic material that absorbs some of the force and spreads out the impact over time. The flexibility of the horns increases the time or duration of the impact, which reduces the amount of force that is transferred to the head and brain, in addition to distributing the impact of the force.
Human brains do not have the same protections as the bighorn and therefore are more prone to concussions from impacts, particularly among football players. The helmet helps reduce the impact, but does not totally prevent concussions, as seen among football players today. Researchers are working to design football helmets to reduce impacts and are inspired by the bighorn sheep.
While helmets help prevent skull fractures, they do little to prevent concussions, where the brain sloshes or moves back and forth against the inner wall of the skull violently causing damage to the brain.
Hoof Design
In addition to their concussion-proof head anatomy, bighorn sheep have hoofed feet that are specially designed for the rugged, mountainous terrain of the North American west and Rocky Mountain region. Rather than being hard like those of a horse or cow, the sheep have rubber-like hooves that allow excellent mobility on steep, rock faces.
Evolution or Creation?
While evolutionists would say that the bighorn sheep's anatomy is a product of evolution, creationists would say that their anatomy is a product of Intelligent Design by a powerful Creator during a creation event.
by Owen Borville
July 11, 2020
Biology
The thick, long, curved horns atop the heads of bighorn sheep, or rams of western North America help prevent brain injury and concussion in these animals that routinely "ram" their heads against each other at speeds of 20 to 40 miles per hour. Their brains are well-protected despite the constant impacts among these animals, who do not sustain concussions or even a headache. Bighorn sheep have very thick skulls that help prevent fracture.
Bighorn sheep range from five to six feet long, four feet tall, 260 to 280 pounds, and their horns weigh up to 30 pounds, which is as much as the rest of the bones in the body. The horns can grow to three feet long and over one foot in circumference. Female bighorn sheep have smaller horns and weigh significantly less.
The force impact of bighorn sheep ramming their heads is 10 times greater than that of two football football players, researchers note. So how do bighorn sheep keep from getting concussions?
Scientists believe that the brains of bighorn sheep are naturally protected against impacts with mechanisms that slow the return of blood from the head to the body, which increases the amount of blood in the brain's "vascular trees", known as the Bubble Wrap Effect. This keeps the brains from being shaken around as much. Hollow cores attached to its respiratory system allow it to rebreathe its air and increase carbon dioxide in its bloodstream.
The horns are made out of a protein called keratin, a very spongy, elastic material that absorbs some of the force and spreads out the impact over time. The flexibility of the horns increases the time or duration of the impact, which reduces the amount of force that is transferred to the head and brain, in addition to distributing the impact of the force.
Human brains do not have the same protections as the bighorn and therefore are more prone to concussions from impacts, particularly among football players. The helmet helps reduce the impact, but does not totally prevent concussions, as seen among football players today. Researchers are working to design football helmets to reduce impacts and are inspired by the bighorn sheep.
While helmets help prevent skull fractures, they do little to prevent concussions, where the brain sloshes or moves back and forth against the inner wall of the skull violently causing damage to the brain.
Hoof Design
In addition to their concussion-proof head anatomy, bighorn sheep have hoofed feet that are specially designed for the rugged, mountainous terrain of the North American west and Rocky Mountain region. Rather than being hard like those of a horse or cow, the sheep have rubber-like hooves that allow excellent mobility on steep, rock faces.
Evolution or Creation?
While evolutionists would say that the bighorn sheep's anatomy is a product of evolution, creationists would say that their anatomy is a product of Intelligent Design by a powerful Creator during a creation event.