Gas Exchange in
Animals
Animals vary in
form and
shape. One
thing in
common
among these
organisms is
the need for
oxygen. 2
Keep in mind
the concept of
diffusion in
living systems
and the factors
that affect this
process. This will
help you grasp
the different
ways animals
breathe.
3
Sources of Oxygen: Water and Air
Water Air 4
Sources of Oxygen: Water and Air
Sources Adaptation for
of Advantages Disadvantages Efficient Gas
Oxygen Exchange
Respiratory Oxygen Respiratory structure
membranes are kept concentration must always be in
Water moist. varies with salinity contact with water.
and temperature.
5
Sources of Oxygen: Water and Air
Sources Adaptation for
of Advantages Disadvantages Efficient Gas
Oxygen Exchange
Respiratory Oxygen Respiratory structure
membranes are kept concentration must always be in
Water moist. varies with salinity contact with water.
and temperature.
Amount of oxygen Evaporation rate is Respiratory structure
and diffusion rate is high. must be inside the
high. body.
Air
Less energy is
needed for gas 6
Exchange Flow: Concurrent vs
Countercurrent
Concurrent Countercurrent
exchange exchange
Concurrent exchange, the Countercurrent exchange takes
blood and the source of oxygen place when the blood and the
move in the same direction. source of oxygen flow in
opposite directions.
7
Exchange Flow: Concurrent vs
Countercurrent
Concurrent Countercurrent
exchange exchange
Concurrent exchange, the Countercurrent exchange takes
blood and the source of oxygen place when the blood and the
move in the same direction. source of oxygen flow in
opposite directions.
8
Exchange Flow: Concurrent vs
Countercurrent
Concurrent vs countercurrent exchange
9
Which source of oxygen and
type of exchange flow do
you think would make gas
exchange in animals more
efficient?
10
How do different groups of
animals make their gas
exchange efficient enough
for their metabolic needs?
11
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion ● Direct diffusion is the movement of
Skin
gases and other particles across
membranes that are in close or direct
Gills
contact with their environment without
Tracheal the need for a medium or transport
System
Lung System system.
12
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
The simple structure of sponges allows them to
obtain oxygen from the water through direct 13
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
Gas exchange in cnidarians can occur between
cells in the ectoderm and water, and cells in the
gastrovascular cavity and water. 14
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
The flat and thin body structure of flatworms
makes their gas exchange by direct diffusion
sufficient enough. 15
Gas exchange by direct diffusion is
only possible and efficient to
organisms with:
● smaller size;
● simpler structure; and
● body cells that are always in
contact with their external
environment.
16
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
● The skin or integument also
Diffusion functions as a respiratory surface. In
Skin order for this organ to allow gas
Gills exchange, three factors must be met:
○ It must have mucus glands.
Tracheal
System ○ It must be thin.
Lung System
○ It must be supplied with a dense
network of capillaries.
17
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
Aside from respiration through the skin,
amphibians also use lungs and gills.
18
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
Skin that functions as a respiratory surface must
be moist, thin, and packed with capillaries.
19
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
● In order for gills to work efficiently
Diffusion despite the low oxygen concentration,
Skin they must have the following features:
Gills ○ large surface area
○ thin membranes
Tracheal
System ○ rich blood supply
Lung System
○ countercurrent flow between blood
and water
20
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
● Gills are composed of four major parts
Diffusion that allow for the efficient exchange of
Skin gases.
Gills ○ Gill arch
○ Gill rakers
Tracheal
System ○ Gill filaments
Lung System
○ Gill lamellae
21
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
The structure and function of fish gills
22
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
Respiration through gills
23
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
● Gills are also found in mollusks,
crustaceans, and echinoderms.
Skin
○ Their gills function in the same way
Gills
as in fish.
Tracheal ○ Their gas exchange is also
System
Lung System optimized by the countercurrent
flow of blood and water.
24
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
The structure of an oyster’s gills
25
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion ● The tracheal system is a gas exchange
Skin system that consists of a network of
Gills tubes that transport gases directly to
Tracheal
the tissues of terrestrial animals that
System have hemocoel.
Lung System
26
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
The tracheal system in insects
27
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
● Spiracles are equipped with hair and
Diffusion
valve.
Skin
○ The hair around the interior of the
Gills opening traps humid air, as well as
Tracheal dust.
System ○ The spiracular valve regulates the
Lung System
opening for gas exchange.
28
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
Diffusion
Skin
Gills
Tracheal
System
Lung System
Each spiracle has hair and valve that help in
preventing too much water loss.
29
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
● Lungs are a very efficient adaptation
for gas exchange for higher forms of
Diffusion
animals. They address the main factors
Skin
that affect the rate of diffusion.
Gills ○ Maintenance of concentration
Tracheal gradient
System ○ Large surface area
Lung System
○ Thin respiratory membrane
○ Short diffusion distance
30
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
General
Structure Defining Mechanis
Lungs
Diffusion and Site of Characteristi m of Lung
Systems
Gas cs Ventilation
Skin Exchange
Gills ● few faveoli
Tracheal ● non-spongy
System lung
amphibia buccal
Lung System appearance
n pumping
● presence of
buccal
cavity
31
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
General
Structure Defining Mechanism
Lungs
Diffusion and Site of Characteristi of Lung
Systems
Gas cs Ventilation
Skin Exchange
Gills movement
of the chest
Tracheal ● increased
wall muscles
System number of
Lung System (squamates),
faveoli
reptilian diaphragm
● absence of
(crocodilians
secondary
), and
palate
muscle sling32
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
General
Mechanis
Structure Defining
Lungs m of Lung
Diffusion and Site of Characteristi
Systems Ventilatio
Gas cs
Skin n
Exchange
Gills
Tracheal ● presence of contraction
System bronchioles and
mammalia
Lung System and pleura relaxation
n
(membrane of
and cavity) diaphragm
33
Systems of Gas Exchange Across
Respiratory Surfaces
General
Structure Defining Mechanism
Lungs
Diffusion and Site of Characteristi of Lung
Systems
Gas cs Ventilation
Skin Exchange
Gills
●presence of
Tracheal unidirection
large air
System al airflow in
sacs
Lung System aves a two-cycle
●absence of
breathing
muscular
process
diaphragm
34
Gas Exchange in Mammals
Mammalian
respiratory system is
composed of the
nostrils, pharynx,
larynx or the
windpipe, the trachea
that divides into a pair
of bronchi, the lungs,
and inside the lungs
are the bronchioles
and the alveoli.
35
Gas Exchange in Mammals
Pulmonary ventilation
in mammals takes
place through the help
of the contraction and
relaxation of a large
dome-shaped muscle
just beneath the
lungs, called
diaphragm
36
Gas Exchange in Mammals
Inhalation
When the diaphragm
contracts (moves
down), the intercostal
muscles contract
(stretch out) as well,
thereby causing the rib
cage to move up and
the chest to expand.
Exhalation
The diaphragm relaxes
(becomes dome-
shaped), causing the
intercostal muscles to
relax.
37
Gas Exchange in Mammals Oxygen
Since the
concentration of
oxygen in the
alveolar cavity is
higher than in the
blood, oxygen will
diffuse into the
Carbon Dioxide
moist membrane of
On the other hand,
the alveolar wall and
the concentration of
into the capillaries.
carbon dioxide in
the blood is higher
than in the alveoli.
This will make the
carbon dioxide move
from the blood into
the alveoli. 38
How does the gas exchange
in animals differ in the gas
exchange in plants?
39
Determine the accuracy of each of the following
statements. Write true if the statement is
correct and false if otherwise.
1. In the concurrent exchange flow, diffusion
eventually stops.
2. Air flows in the respiratory system of mammals in a
single direction.
3. The spiracles of insects are functionally similar to
the stomata of plants.
40
Determine how animals make up for the
following situations or characteristics to make
their gas exchange efficient enough. Provide at
least one.
1. Birds need large amounts of oxygen to maintain
flight.
2. Aquatic animals are at a disadvantage of getting
less oxygen from water.
3. Frogs do not have rib cages and strong chest
muscles to ventilate their lungs.
41
● The efficiency of gas exchange in animals
depends on two important factors: the size of
the organism and their habitat.
○ Smaller animals already have a more
efficient gas exchange, whereas larger
organisms need to have a specialized
structure to increase the efficiency of their
gas exchange.
42
● The efficiency of gas exchange in animals
depends on two important factors: the size of
the organism and their habitat.
○ The structure of an animal’s gas exchange
system depends on whether it lives on land
or in water because this dictates where
oxygen will come from.
43
● When the source of oxygen is water,
oxygen concentration varies with salinity and
temperature. In order to make up for this, the
respiratory membrane must always be in
contact with water and the exchange flow
must be countercurrent.
44
● Countercurrent exchange flow occurs
when the blood and water flow in opposite
directions. This ensures that as the blood
flows, it encounters a portion of water with
a higher oxygen concentration than it has.
45
● When the source of oxygen is air, less
energy is needed for gas exchange
because of high amounts of oxygen in the
air. But since the evaporation rate is high,
the respiratory structure must be kept
inside the body.
46
● Different groups of animals have evolved
various gas exchange systems based on their
size and environment to increase the
efficiency of their gas exchange. The table
below summarizes the types and
characteristics of gas exchange systems in
different animal groups.
47
Gas
Adaptation for Efficient Gas
Exchange Animal Groups
Exchange
System
● Membranes are moist.
sponges
● Body cells are always in direct contact
direct cnidarians
with the environment.
diffusion platyhelminthes
● No respiratory and circulatory tissues,
nematodes
creating short diffusion distance.
● Moist thin skin supplied with a dense annelids
skin
network of capillaries. amphibians
48
Gas
Adaptation for Efficient Gas
Exchange Animal Groups
Exchange
System
● Membranes are always moist.
● Gill filaments are subdivided into fishes
sections (lamellae) to increase the mollusks
gills surface area. crustaceans
● Gill filaments are supplied with a some
dense network of capillaries. amphibians
● Concurrent flow of gas exchange.
49
Gas
Adaptation for Efficient Gas
Exchange Animal Groups
Exchange
System
● Since there are no blood vessels that
transport the gases, tubes allow gases insects
trachea to diffuse directly into the tissues. arachnids
● Respiratory membranes are kept moist centipedes
by the tracheole cells.
50
Gas
Adaptation for Efficient Gas
Exchange Animal Groups
Exchange
System
● Respiratory membrane is kept moist
by mucus glands.
● Air sacs increase the surface area for amphibians
diffusion. reptiles
lungs
● Air sacs and capillaries are thin- birds
walled. mammals
● Lungs are highly vascularized,
51
creating a short diffusion distance.