Respiratory Systems in Insects and Fish

Vocabulary flashcards covering the components and adaptations of insect tracheal systems and fish gill structures based on lecture notes.

Tracheal system

The breathing system of insects consisting of a network of air tubes.

Spiracles

Small pores located in the thorax and abdomen of insects that allow the intake of air into the tracheal system.

Trachea

The air tube system in insects that branches out to form finer tubes known as tracheoles.

Tracheole

The respiratory surface of an insect which is large in number, thin, and moist to facilitate efficient gaseous exchange.

Air sacs

Specific sacs in the trachea system of some insects that are filled with air to speed up gas delivery during active body movements.

Gills

The respiratory structure of fish comprised of filaments supported by a gill arch.

Gill arch

A structural support for the line of filaments that make up the fish gills.

Filament

A structure in fish gills that contains many thin and flat projections called lamellae to enable rapid gaseous exchange.

Lamella

A thin and flat projection on a fish gill filament supplied with many blood capillaries for the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Surface area to volume ratio ($TSA/V$)

A physical ratio that decreases as the size of an organism increases, necessitating specialized respiratory structures in large and complex organisms.