CH7 respiratory systems in fish

Question 1

What are the gills

Answer 1

• fish organ of gaseous exchange

Question 2

What are the adaptations of the gills

Answer 2

• large surface area
• good blood supply
• thin layers

Question 3

Where are the gills

Answer 3

• contained in a gill cavity
• covered by a protective operculum

Question 4

What is ram ventilation

Answer 4

• when fish need to move in order to get water
• ram water past the gills

Question 5

What is the process of water entering fish

Answer 5

• mouth opened and floor of buccal cavity lowered, increasing volume
• pressure of buccal cavity drops and water moves in
• opercular valve is shut and valve containing gills expands, lowering pressure
• floor of buccal cavity moves up, increasing the pressure so water moves over gills
• mouth closes, operculum opens and sides of opercular cavity move inwards
• increase pressure in opercular cavity and force water over gills and out of operculum

Question 6

How are fish adapted for effective gaseous exchange

Answer 6

• tips of adjacent filaments overlap, slowing down movement of water
• water flows in different direction, maintaining a steep concentration gradient