RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

OF FISH
Respiratory Pump
Blood and Water Flow Patterns in the Gills
Hemoglobin Function
Responses of the Respiratory System to External
Changes
Air Breathing in Fish
R Unlike most terrestrial vertebrates, which
have internal lungs that must be ventilated
E through bidirectional movement of air to
S replenish the Oxygen (O2) Supply. Most fish
P have external gills, at are ventilated by a P
unidirectional flow of water.
I U
Fine sieve structure of gills which are very
R efficient in extracting O2 from water. M
A This unidirectional flow pattern negates the P
T waste associated with dead air space and
makes possible opportunity to maintain a
O constant gradient for oxygen to diffuse
R from the water into the blood by way of the
Y gills.
R  Within the pattern, there can be seen a
definite cycle of breathing that may be
E divided into a number of phases, two major
S phases and two minor phases:
P P
Phase 1: the Opercular Suction Pump
I Phase 2: when the pressure is reduced U
R Phase 3: the Buccal Pressure Pump M
A Phase 4: when the pressure is reversed P
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