SURFACE ANATOMY

Typically Romulans are slightly above the average height for most humanoids with adult males ranging in height from 6' to 6'7".  Adult female Romulans usually range in height from 5'7" to 6'.

Romulans also tend to be a bit heavier than expected for their height due to the increased density of their muscle tissue and a very strong attachment to their basic skeletal structure.  Adult males usually weigh from 145 to 250 pounds, while adult females usually weigh from 126 to 165 pounds.  The combination of increased muscle density, strong skeletal attachment, and extra height tends to give Romulans a natural ability toward martial arts and athletic events.

As a rule, Romulans are a long-lived race.  The average life span is approximately 220 - 250 years, although for the last 10 to 15 of these years the individual may be in a relatively weakened state.  Romulans have very little genetic or racial diversity.  Genetic mutations are not tolerated within the Empire.  Most have dark hair and eyes with a tanned, slightly, green tinted skin.

Romulan skin is a more extensive moisture proof barrier than the skin of most other humanoid species and, due to specialized skin cells, can absorb moisture directly from the environment.  It is constantly hot to the touch and, in most cases, has a slight healthy green tint.  Although Romulan DNA and chromosomal structures are similar to those of other humanoids, Romulan and Vulcan blood structures are based on copper not iron.  Hence the typical greenish cast to the skin in a healthy specimen.


STRUCTURES OF THE HEAD AND NECK

The Brain
The outer surface of the Romulan brain is gray in color with a greenish tint.  Adult brains are approximately 1600 cc in size, with a small olfactory center and a larger, more convoluted mid-brain.  It is this mid-brain section which is the site of Romulan undeveloped telepathic powers.  The brain is encased in, and protected by, a skull consisting of cranial bones and facial bones that articulate firmly with one another.





























The Romulan skull, although very similar in appearance to that of other humanoid species, is actually slightly thicker (about 3 cm) and heavier than most.  Head injuries or skull fractures are very rare among Romulans.


THE SENSORY ORGANS

The Ear
The top of the Romulan ear tapers to a defined point.  Males have larger ears
and more prominent points than do females.  Hearing is very acute, especially
in the higher sound frequencies, and is significantly greater than most other
humanoids.

The Eyes
Other Romulan sensory organs are imilar in structure and function to those of
most humanoid species.  Their eyes are forward facing, and stereoscopic with
a clear inner eyelid, or nicitating membrane, that aids in filtering out harmful
radiation.  The action of this membrane is totally instinctive rather than
voluntary.  Romulans have very acute night vision but somewhat decreased
vision in extremely bright light.

The Nose
Although the Romulan sense of smell is somewhat decreased when compared
to that of the average humanoid, the Romulan nose is specifically more adapted to filtering dust and conserving moisture.  This is possibly an evolutionary adaptation from their ancestors' lives in the deserts on Vulcan.

The Mouth
The basic oral structures of Romulans are almost identical to other humanoid species.  However, adult Romulans have a total of only 28 teeth, unlike most humanoid species that have 32.  Romulans have only 2 sets of molars, instead of the customary 3 sets.  The Romulan sense of taste is best for salty and bitter foods.  They enjoy highly spiced or seasoned foods more than sweets.


INTERNAL ORGAN ARRANGEMENT

The Lungs
Romulan internal organs are very dense and slightly heavier than expected.  The large paired lungs are efficient oxygen producers with approximately 20% more elastic alveoli than the lungs of similar species.  The Romulan rib cage is also larger and sturdier than that of most humanoids.  Serious students of humanoid biology will immediately recognize that the skeletal structure of the Romulan rib cage has
additional ribs that extend downward to protect not only the enhanced lungs but also the heart.

The Heart
Due to the increased size of the lungs, the internal arrangement of
the Romulan heart and liver are shifted toward the right side of the
body with the heart basically beneath the right lung.  Please note
the small cardiac notch on the lower lobe of the right lung.  This
space allows for proper movement of both the heart and the lung. 
The heart itself is an extremely muscular four-chambered organ
with strong, flexible walls.  Normal heart rate for adult Romulans is
242 beats per minute, which is over twice as fast as that of certain
other humanoid species.  In spite of this rapid heart rate, Romulan
blood pressure levels are actually very low.  Normal blood pressure
range for adults is about 80/40 (systolic/diastolic).  This apparent
inconsistency is explained in part by the extremely large size of the
typical Romulan blood vessels.  Due to the larger size of the
Romulan arteries and veins, such typical humanoid conditions as
stroke, arteriosclerosis, or congestive heart failure are non-existent
in the Romulan population.

The Liver
The Romulan liver serves the same basic functions, as does the
liver in all humanoid species.  In Romulans however, its location is shifted more centrally back toward the stomach.  The Romulan liver is somewhat smaller in size than those found in other, similar species.  Since the Romulan diet is very low in fats, the liver has evolved additional capacity for the storage of glycogen and is capable of storing up to 60 percent of its weight in glycogen.

The Stomach and Intestines
The Romulan stomach is divided into two chambers.  By the time that food reaches the second chamber, it is almost completely digested.  The main function of the Romulan intestines is to reabsorb as much of the remaining moisture from the food as possible.  This results in the production of extremely dry and pellet-like waste products.

The Kidneys
Like their Vulcan ancestors, Romulans have highly effective kidneys capable of reabsorbing all but about 10% of consumed fluids.  Waste from the kidneys therefore has an extremely high specific gravity and is quite dark with an oily texture.


ROMULAN FETAL DEVELOPMENT

Romulan females are capable of procreation at                                                                                                          any time, producing at most two eggs per cyclic                                                                                                         period from paired ovaries.  The Romulan                                                                                                                   males are also capable of procreation at any                                                                                                               time, unlike Vulcan males who are required to                                                                                                            mate only once every seven years.  The                                                                                                                      Romulan fetus normally has a 12-month period                                                                                                           of intrauterine development with a resultant                                                                                                              birth weight of between 7 and 10 pounds.                                                                                                                  
While twins occasionally develop they are                                                                                                                   always identical and no recorded instances of                                                                                                            multiple births are found among the Romulan                                                                                                             population.

Historically Romulan females have produced an average of four children during their childbearing years.  With recent advances in genetic testing and medical treatment, this birthrate has decreased rapidly in recent years and is now an average of two children per female.  Although motherhood during the teenage years is possible for Romulans, it is socially unacceptable and rarely occurs.  Most females do not give birth to their first child before the age of 40.  However, mating for the express purpose of having children without the ceremony of marriage is a socially acceptable and frequent practice.
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Rihannsu Physiology