Respiratory Systems of Mammals and Fish: Structural and Functional Comparison
Purvi Patel
University of Delaware
INTRODUCTION
Life began with anoxia organisms and over time they have evolved, and become very dependent on oxygen. This dependence led to a change in their respiratory systems which caused structural changes. The steps in evolution towards terrestrial organisms has led to air supportive respiratory systems. Different organisms have different forms of obtaining oxygen based on their environments which has led to independent development of respiratory organs, specialized to function in specific mediums. The respiratory organs are considered the gatekeepers as they allow proper distribution of oxygen, maintaining homeostasis and ensuring proper function of the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system works with the respiratory system for proper distribution of oxygen through the body. All gas exchanging structures have basic features including thin blood-gas barrier, large interface, ventilatory regulation and low cost of breathing. The main goal for all respiratory structures is to acquire enough but not too much oxygen, as it could be lethal, and also release carbon dioxide (Hisa et al. 2013).
Oxygen has become essential over time but there is major difference in aquatic respiration versus land reparation in vertebrates. In osteichthyes (bony fish), the largest group of modern fish, counter current flow is required for the most efficient form of gas exchange and respiration when chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) use ram ventilation. Fish in general require a more efficient form of gas exchange then mammals because their medium, water, contains less than 1% dissolved oxygen compared to 2...
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...stems in mammals and fish differ greatly mainly because of the medium they are in. Air has a higher concentration of dissolved oxygen which is why lungs are not as efficient and diffusions distances are not as small as they are in gills. Fish take in 80% of dissolved oxygen in the water that runs through the gills when mammals only take in 45%. Their structures are different but they have similar function. Alveoli and lamellae, the most important structures, both serve to increase the surface area for efficient oxygen exchange. Alveoli are round and lamellae are flat disks yet they have the same function (Carvalho and Goncalves 2011; Olson 2002). Both structures also connect the respiratory system to the circulatory system as they hold the capillary beds. Mammalian and fish repertory systems are composed many different structures but they are functionally similar.
The respiratory system is the system for taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide in organisms. The respiratory systems of California sea lions, king cobras, and bald eagles have a few similarities and differences, but they all allow the intake of oxygen for each organism.
Biology 2A03 Lab 4 Respiratory Gas Exchange in a Mouse Lab Manual. Winter Term 2014 (2014). Biology Department. McMaster University.
Oxygen breathing lungs are a universal trait of class reptilia. As such, it would have been necessary for the Plesiosauroid - a marine reptile, to return to the ocean surface to inhale air. Oxygen expenditure in reptiles is proportional to strenuosity of locomotion (Frappell, Schultz & Christian, 2002). Therefore the Plesiosauroid must have held physiological traits that enabled the species to avoid oxygen deficit while hunting deep-sea dwelling prey. This essay will outline the hypothesised respiratory, circulatory, pulmonary and sensory attributes of the Plesiosauroid as they relate to diving. These hypotheses will be supported by investigating the physiological adaptations of the Plesiosaur’s biological analogues, and the prospect of similar adaptations in the former will be speculated upon.
The respiratory system of birds is different in both structure and function from the respiratory system of mammals. The avian respiratory system delivers oxygen from the air to the tissues and also removes carbon dioxide. In addition, the respiratory system plays an important role in thermoregulation (maintaining normal body temperature). The avian respiratory system is different from that of other vertebrates, with birds having relatively small lungs plus nine air sacs that play an important role in
Healthy lung tissue is predominately soft, elastic connective tissue, designed to slide easily over the thorax with each breath. The lungs are covered with visceral pleura which glide fluidly over the parietal pleura of the thoracic cavity thanks to the serous secretion of pleural fluid (Marieb, 2006, p. 430). During inhalation, the lungs expand with air, similar to filling a balloon. The pliable latex of the balloon allows it to expand, just as the pliability of lungs and their components allows for expansion. During exhalation, the volume of air decrease causing a deflation, similar to letting air out of the balloon. However, unlike a balloon, the paired lungs are not filled with empty spaces; the bronchi enter the lungs and subdivide progressively smaller into bronchioles, a network of conducting passageways leading to the alveoli (Marieb, 2006, p. 433). Alveoli are small air sacs in the respiratory zone. The respiratory zone also consists of bronchioles and alveolar ducts, and is responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide (Marieb, 2006, p. 433).
It is when much needed oxygen is obtained by the body in order for respiration to take place and the waste CO2 is taken out of the body. In us mammals, the exchange takes place in the lungs which contain a large number of alveoli. These are sponge-like structures in which the diffusion takes place. They are highly adapted to diffuse the gases as they give a large surface area for exchange of the gases.
The Respiratory System 1. Define respiration. Respiration is the process of converting glucose to energy, which goes to every cell in the body. 2. Describe the organs of external respiration.
oxygen to survive. If the oxygen level is depressed to zero, all fish in the
Haven't you ever wondered what would happen if you didn't have a digestive or circulatory system? Well, basically you wouldn't be able to be reading this or even be alive. While there are many important systems in the body, the circulatory and digestive are the two most important. There are many ways that they are similar, different, and how they work together.
The circulatory system and respiratory system share a highly important relationship that is crucial to maintaining the life of an organism. In order for bodily processes to be performed, energy to be created, and homeostasis to be maintained, the exchange of oxygen from the external environment to the intracellular environment is performed by the relationship of these two systems. Starting at the heart, deoxygenated/carbon-dioxide (CO2)-rich blood is moved in through the superior and inferior vena cava into the right atrium, then into the right ventricle when the heart is relaxed. As the heart contracts, the deoxygenated blood is pumped through the pulmonary arteries to capillaries in the lungs. As the organism breathes and intakes oxygenated air, oxygen is exchanged with CO2 in the blood at the capillaries. As the organism breathes out, it expels the CO2 into the external environment. For the blood in the capillaries, it is then moved into pulmonary veins and make
The Circulatory System is a transportation and cooling system for the body. The Red Blood Cells act like billions of little mail men carrying all kinds of things that are needed by the cells, also RBC's carry oxygen and nutrients to the cells. All cells in the body require oxygen to remain alive. Also there is another kind of cells called white blood cells moving in the system. Why blood cells protect from bacteria and other things that are harmful. The Circulatory system contains vein arteries, veins are used to carry blood to the heart and arteries to carry the blood away. The blood inside veins is where most of the oxygen and nutrients are and is called deoxygenated and the color of the blood is dark red. However, blood in the arteries are also full of oxygen but is a bright red. The main components of the circulatory system are the heart, blood, and blood vessels.
Mechanisms involved with metabolism, blood flow, and oxygen storage capabilities had to evolve to accommodate diving lifestyles (Costa, 2007). One mechanism is the diving reflex of marine mammals (Heller, Orians, Purves, and Sadava, 1998). This is a highly developed automatic reflex that slows the heart rate of an animal when it submerges underwater (Heller et al., 1998). Humans have a diving reflex that is triggered when a person’s face is immersed in water (Heller et al., 1998). Human’s heart rate automatically slows as soon as a person’s face is completely submerged (Heller et al., 1998). At the end of the dive, heart rate returns at an above-normal rate to flush out the lactate from the muscles back into circulation (Withers, 1992). The period of increased oxygen consumption after a dive is proportional to the amount of oxygen “debt” an animal is after a dive (Withers, 2009). When a marine mammal dives, the majority of the blood flow and available oxygen goes to the animal’s heart and brain (Heller et al., 1998). Scientists have observed that although the heart structure of cetaceans and pinnipeds are very similar to other mammals, one major difference are the enlarged stores of glycogen present in their hearts not found in terrestrial mammals (Berta et al., 2006). Larger stores of
Gaseous exchange process occur by a system of air-filled internal tubes, tracheal system, finer branches that extends to all parts of the body which became a functional intracellular muscle fibers in which oxygen with be carried in the gas phase directly to the sites of utilization. Some insects are known to have hemocyanin, an oxygen-carrying pigment which exists in the blood, some aquatic insects have gaseous exchange with water using arrays of tracheae under the permeable cuticle while in some aquatic insects and terrestrial insects, the existence of spiracles (tracheae which opens through segmental pores) functions as a filter s...
Far below the surface of the ocean, lies a world very different from our own. Among the many inhabitants of this world are fish. The fish of the sea are dazzling, colorful creatures. Their outer beauty is enhanced by the wide array of colors that encompass them and vary to include all shades of the rainbow. Although flat from a distance, fish are anything but. Their insides are made up of many layers including, a vertebrate, skeleton, muscles, fins, gills, and scales. Every fish has a distinctive nose and tail. They are cold blooded animals, who lay eggs to produce young and breathe as water passes over their gills. Fish are incredibly graceful and skillful swimmers who have perfected the sport as a means of escape from predators lurking in the water. Although fish are among the many wonders of the sea, they are also very useful on land. Seafood is one of the healthiest proteins, and, because of the wide variety and types available, fish is often the main course in healthy meals around the world. Finally, fish are peaceful as well as beautiful a...
Breathing; in this category it would be within reason to say that fish are the masters of the concept. The fish takes oxygen rich water in through its mouth and forces it though his gills. As it is going past the gills, the blood vessels that are close to the surface of the gills collect the oxygen from the water, and supply the blood stream. Once this water has been used, it forced into the surrounding water where it will be oxygenated once again. Providing oxygen was not all that the water was good for, it took with it carbon dioxide from the fish’s body. This entire process is completed in a surprisingly short time, making it a very effective form of breathing.