Gas Exchange

Plant and Animal Respiration

Gas exchange
 Is the uptake of molecular oxygen from the environment and the discharge of carbon
dioxide to the environment.
 It is often called respiratory exchange or respiration but it should not be confused with
cellular respiration.
 Oxygen is needed in tissues for aerobic cellular respiration to occur and extract ATP
from food.
 Carbon dioxide must be released to prevent physiological pH in tissues from being very
acidic. In plants however, the carbon dioxide that is released as a by-product of cellular
respiration may again be taken up for the process of photosynthesis.
 The respiratory surface or organ is the part of an animal’s body where gases are
exchanged with the environment. To allow for gas exchange, it must be moist, large
enough, and protected from desiccation.

Respiratory Structures (Plants)

 Respiratory structures in leaves, stem, and roots.
 Respiratory structures in leaves
 Respiratory structures in stem

 Respiratory structure in roots

Respiratory Structures: Invertebrates
 Cell surface or cell membrane – especially used in unicellular organisms

 Integumentary exchange – refers to the general body surface or skin used by animals
with high surface-to-volume ratio; e.g. flatworm and earthworm.

 External Gills – used by invertebrates that live in aquatic habitats; gills are highly
folded, thin- walled, vascularized epidermis that project outward from the body; e.g.
crayfish, lobster, sea star, nudibranch
  Tracheal system– utilizes fine air-conducting tubules to provide gaseous exchange at
the cellular level; it is not dependent on a circulatory system; e.g. insects, spiders

Respiratory Structures: Vertebrates

 External Gills – thin, vascularized epidermis that project from the body surface of a few
amphibians; e.g. larval salamander

 Internal Gills – rows of slits or pockets in adult fishes positioned at the back of the
mouth such that water that enters the mouth can flow over them as it exits just behind
the head.
 Lungs – internal respiratory surfaces shaped as a cavity or sac; lungs provide a
membrane for gaseous exchange;
 - since they are not in direct contact with all other parts of the body, lungs require a
circulatory system to transport gases to the rest of the body; found in birds, reptiles, and
mammals.