The Importance of Oxygen in Animals
Humans can take air in through their nasal cavity and their mouth. The air carrying the oxygen then travels down the Trachea when it branches out into the Bronchioles. The air then branches out into the Bronchioles than into the Alveoli. Oxygen in the air then diffuses into the the bloodstream while Carbon Dioxide diffuses out if the bloodstream. When the person breaths out the CO2 is released from their body. The Diaphragm located at the bottom of the two lungs aids on movement of the lungs in order to release CO2 and take in O2.
Once the oxygen is in the blood steam capillaries, network of small veins around the Alveoli, which send the Oxygenated blood to the Pulmonary Vein. The Pulmonary Vein send the blood to the heart where it is then distributed in to the body. Hemoglobin, a protein in Red Blood Cells that is red, is an excellent carrier and transporter of CO2 and O2. Hemoglobin attaches to O2 as blood travels to the lungs than it releases the O2 into the cells as the Oxygenated blood travels through the body[1].
Once the oxygen is in the blood steam capillaries, network of small veins around the Alveoli, which send the Oxygenated blood to the Pulmonary Vein. The Pulmonary Vein send the blood to the heart where it is then distributed in to the body. Hemoglobin, a protein in Red Blood Cells that is red, is an excellent carrier and transporter of CO2 and O2. Hemoglobin attaches to O2 as blood travels to the lungs than it releases the O2 into the cells as the Oxygenated blood travels through the body[1].
Cellular Respiration
Cellular Respiration occurs in the Mitochondria. The cell uses Glucose, which is starch broken down, and the Oxygen form the blood.The Glucose and Oxygen create ATP. ATP had three bonds in which the last bond stores energy. Once that third bond is broken energy is released out of the cell alongside water and Carbon Dioxide.The cell is able to perform DNA synthesis and aid in muscle movement.
The CO2 is released in the blood and is deoxygenated. The "Dirty Blood" travels in the artery back to the heart. There the "Dirty Blood" travels into the Vena Cava then in to the Right atrium or Right ventricle and into the Pulmonary Artery to the lungs. In the lungs the "Dirty Blood" filled with CO2 is Oxygenated by Oxygen diffusing in and Carbon Dioxide diffusing out. The blood then goes into the Pulmonary Vein then in to the Left atrium and Left ventricle. It then finally goes in to the Aorta and then into the body where the process starts all over again. |
Gas Exchange in the Atlantic Sturgeon
Unlike humans, the Atlantic Sturgeon does not have a trachea, lungs, or a diaphragm to exchange gases. The Atlantic Sturgeon exchanges gas by first first allowing Oxygen rich water to enter their mouths[2]. The gill arches provide support for the gill filaments and lamellae. The gill filaments provides oxygenated blood to the gill surface while the lamellae is the place where gas exchange takes place[3].
Fish have unidirectional blood flow, meaning that the blood flows in the opposite direction that the water enters the gills[3]. This is helpful in gas exchange because the water is thicker and forces and enters the gill cavity and leaves through the gill slits. A fish's heart has two chambers, one that receives blood and other that sends blood to the rest of the body[3]. The blood in the gills is high in CO2 and low in O2 while the water is high low in CO2 and high in O2[3]. CO2 diffuses into the water while the O2 diffuses into the capillaries[3]. |