What is the respiratory surface in humans?

What is the respiratory surface in humans?

Answer: The respiratory surface in human beings is called the “respiratory membrane” that is made up of two types of cells – alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary capillary endothelial cells. It is characterized by: Thin outer walls facilitate the efficient and faster gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Are gills more efficient than lungs?

Answer: In terms of volume, fish have to pump 40 times more water through gills than they would air through lungs to get the same amount of oxygen. Water is not nearly as oxygen-rich as air. As a result, gills have to be extremely efficient at extracting oxygen, and they certainly do a better job than our lungs.

Why is surface area important in the respiratory system?

As it moves through blood vessels (capillaries) in the alveoli walls, your blood takes the oxygen from the alveoli and gives off carbon dioxide to the alveoli. This large surface area is necessary to process the huge amounts of air involved in breathing and getting oxygen to your lungs.

How does exchange of gases take place in fish Class 10?

Oxygen and carbon dioxide dissolve in water, and most fishes exchange dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in water by means of the gills. Water taken in continuously through the mouth passes backward between the gill bars and over the gill filaments, where the exchange of gases takes place.

What is the respiratory surface of fishes?

gills
Respiration in fish takes place with the help of gills. Most fish possess gills on either side of their head. Gills are tissues made up of feathery structures called gill filaments providing a large surface area for exchange of gases.

Why does the rate of breathing in aquatic animals is faster than others?

Since the amount of oxygen dissolved in water is comparatively lower than that in air, the aquatic animals have to breath rapidly to take in sufficient oxygen. Thus, the rate of breathing in aquatic organisms is much faster than that seen in terrestrial organisms.

Why are gills so efficient?

Gills in fish Exchange of gases in fish is very efficient because of: the large surface area of the gills. the large surface area of the blood capillaries in each gill filament. the short distance required for diffusion – the outer layer of the gill filaments and the capillary walls are just one cell thick.

How does it help make the fish gill the most efficient respiratory organ?

Fish gills use a design called ‘countercurrent oxygen exchange’ to maximize the amount of oxygen that their blood can pick up. They achieve this by maximizing the amount of time their blood is exposed to water that has a higher oxygen level, even as the blood takes on more oxygen.

How does the respiratory system increase surface area?

Adaptations of the alveoli: Large surface area – many alveoli are present in the lungs with a shape that further increases surface area. Thin walls – alveolar walls are one cell thick providing gases with a short diffusion distance.

How surface area affect the respiratory surface?

The small round alveoli allow for an amazingly large surface area for this gas exchange to take place. Remember, the blood capillaries must be in contact with the respiratory surface for gas exchange to take place. Therefore, the greater the surface area, the more gas exchange can occur.

How do fish carry out gas exchange?

Fish use specialised surfaces called gills to carry out gas exchange. Gills are highly folded, giving them a large surface area and maximising the efficiency of gas exchange. The gill filaments have many protrusions called gill lamellae.

How does respiration take place in fish?

Respiration in fish takes place with the help of gills. Most fish possess gills on either side of their head. Gills are tissues made up of feathery structures called gill filaments providing a large surface area for exchange of gases. Fish take in oxygen-rich water via their mouths and pump it over their gills.