Gas Exchange In Fish Flashcards
What is the primary organ for gas exchange in fish?
Gills
Gills are specialized structures that allow fish to extract oxygen from water.
What are the thin plates in the gills called that increase surface area for gas exchange?
Gill filaments or primary lamellae
These structures maximize the area available for diffusion of gases.
What structures cover the gill filaments and further increase surface area?
Gill plates or secondary lamellae
These enhance the efficiency of gas exchange by providing more surface for diffusion.
What supports the gill filaments in fish?
Gill arch
The gill arch provides structural support for the gill filaments.
What is the function of blood capillaries in the gill plates?
Speed up diffusion between water and blood
The capillaries allow for efficient gas exchange by maintaining a thin barrier for diffusion.
Describe the counter-current system in fish gills.
Blood flows through gill plates in one direction while water flows in the opposite direction
This system helps maintain a steep concentration gradient for oxygen diffusion.
What advantage does the counter-current system provide for fish?
Maintains a steep concentration gradient for oxygen diffusion
This allows for maximum oxygen uptake from the water.
What happens to blood oxygen concentration as it flows through the gill plates?
Blood enters with low oxygen concentration and leaves with high oxygen concentration
This reflects the efficient extraction of oxygen from the water.
What are the main components of gas exchange mechanisms in bony fish?
Buccal cavity, operculum, gill filaments, gill lamellae, countercurrent flow
These components work together to facilitate ventilation and gas exchange.
Fill in the blank: The slits on the side of a fish’s head are _______.
Operculum
The gills are located inside the operculum ; the slits allow water to exit after passing over the gills.
Describe how the gills of bony fish are ventilated
•The fish opens its mouth
•which cause the floor of the bucal cavity to be lowered
•The volume of the buccal cavity increases
•this causes the pressure inside the cavity to decrease.
•This causes water to be sucked into the cavity.
•When the fish closes its mouth, the floor if the buccal cavity is raised again.
•This causes the volume inside the cavity to decrease and the pressure inside to increase
•water is forced out of the cavity across the gill filament.
Operculum
A bony flap that covers the gills
Function of operculum
Protects the gills
What happens to the operculum during ventilation in fish
The increase in pressure (caused by the decrease in volume of the buccal cavity) causes the operculum to open, to allow the water to leave the gills
