Shark Respiration

Izmania Shaharani
3415122174

Cartilaginous fishes:

5 naked gill slits

Anterior & posterior walls of the 1st 4 gill chambers have a gill surface
(demibranch). Posterior wall of last (5th) chamber has no demibranch.
Interbranchial septum lies between 2 demibranchs of a gill arch
Gill rakers protrude from gill cartilage & guard entrance into gill chamber
2 demibranchs + septum & associated cartilage, blood vessels, muscles, & nerves =
holobranch

 The

respiratory system of
sharks is markedly different
from that of bony fishes.
Where bony fishes usually
have five gilled arches and
only one external gill
opening, sharks may have as
many as seven openings, but
the most common number is
five. Also, where the gill
arches of bony fishes are
protected by anopercle, or
plate, the gills of sharks are
not.

Sharks generally inhale most of the

necessary water through their mouths, but
they are also able to inhale water by way of
spiracles, which are opening located close
to the gills. When resting, sharks propel
water over their gills using the muscles of
their jaws and pharynx. Oxygen from the
incoming water is absorbed into the blood
system by way of the gill filaments. Water
exits through the gill slits .(Davies, 1964).