Gas Exchange - Animals

These flashcards cover key concepts related to gas exchange in animals, respiratory structures, and physiological mechanisms.

Gas Exchange

The process of obtaining O2 for cellular respiration and disposing of CO2, typically occurring across specialized respiratory surfaces.

Partial Pressure

The pressure exerted by a particular gas in a mixture of gases, significant for understanding gas exchange.

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures

The principle stating that the total pressure in a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas.

Countercurrent Exchange

A mechanism in fish gills where blood flows in the opposite direction to water passing over them, maximizing O2 extraction.

Tracheal System

A network of branching tubes in insects that delivers O2 directly to body cells, functioning separately from the circulatory system.

Breathing

The process of inhalation and exhalation that ventilates the lungs, distinct from the biochemical process of respiration.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen; contains iron and can bind up to four O2 molecules.

Bohr Shift

The phenomenon where increased CO2 concentration reduces the affinity of hemoglobin for O2, facilitating oxygen delivery to tissues.

Surfactants

Secretions that coat the alveoli, reducing surface tension and aiding in lung function, especially vital for preterm infants.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF)

A family of transcription factors that regulate the cellular response to low oxygen levels, influencing metabolic enzyme activity.