Gas Exchange in Fish, Insects and Single Celled Organisms

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  • Gas Exchange
    • Fish
      • The problem for fish is the oxygen concentration is lower in water
      • Water enters through the mouth and is forced over the gills.
        • Leavers via the gill cover
      • Large Surface Area
        • Lamellae increases surface area even more, this is where gas exchange occurs
        • Many gill filaments
      • Short Diffusion Pathway
        • Lamellae only one/two cells thick
        • Short diffusion path between blood and water
      • Counter-Current Flow
        • Blood and water flow in different directions across lamellae
        • Steep Concentration Gradient across along whole length of gill
        • Continuously occurring across whole length of gill
      • Gas Exchange surface is the gills
    • Single Celled Organisms
      • No gas exchange system
      • Short Diffusion Pathway
        • Cells close as possible to external environment
      • Gas Exchange Surface is the cell surface membrane
    • Insects
      • The problem for insects is that they lose water from their GE surface
      • Many tracheae and many small branching tracheoles ensure a Large Surface Area
      • Ventillation
        • Air enters through the spiracles and into the tracheae
        • Terrestrial insects limit water loss by closing spiracles
        • Body movements help to move air in and out
        • Air sacs ensure air is always present, making gas exchange more efficient
      • A  Steep Concentration Gradient is maintained by aerobic respiration in cells, uses up O2 and produces CO2
      • Gas Exchange Surface is the spiracles

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