With the season of excess just over in many parts of the world, now is as good a time as any to ponder the physiological effects of overeating. The post-prandial slump is one such consequence, as blood is diverted to the intestines and liver, and the rest of the body relaxes to expedite digestion. Two papers by Secor and colleagues show that the demands we might put on the digestive system by eating especially large meals are nothing compared to those experienced by some snake species. These studies provide a new and spectacular model for investigating how the digestive physiology of vertebrates may be adapted to altered functional needs.
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