So, um...

[conuly]

Where do centaurs keep their lungs? This has been bugging me all day. And what's in the extra chest?

Comments

[dragonwolf]

I would assume the human half would have a larger rib cage to support a larger-than-human set of lungs. The horse half may simply have the vestigial remains of the horse-lungs.

Two hearts would be easier to handle, though may take a little more brain development to synchronize the two. The lower heart could simply act as a "signal booster," particularly when running, to provide the necessary blood to the lower extremities.

Or, it could be that the lungs take up the entire human chest cavity, so the heart resides solely in the horse chest. Doing it that way could allow for both a heart and lungs that are large enough to sustain the creature, even while running.

[conuly]

Oooh, I really like that last one.