Form and Function

Patterns of Gas Transfer

Orientation of blood flow to ventilation
Affects efficiency of gas exchange
Patterns
Countercurrent flow
Crosscurrent flow
Uniform pool
 Patterns of Gas Transfer
Most reptile, amphibians,
and fishes
Countercurrent flow
Gills of some fishes
Water (through secondary
lamellae) and blood (through
capillaries) flow in opposite Efferent Afferent
blood vessel blood vessel
directions
(rich in O2) (low in O2)
Maintains high partial pressure
gradients of gases
Faviform (feveoli = secondary
and tertiary septa)
Less surface area and
elasticity than alveolar lungs
For lower metabolic demands Faviform
 Aves and some fishes
Crosscurrent flow
Air and blood flows
through capillaries
Oblique flow rather than
parallel
Blood capillaries are in
series
Parabronchial lungs and
crosscurrent flow support
higher metabolic scope
Allow extraction of oxygen
at high altitudes

Parabronchial lungs
 Patterns of Gas Transfer
Mammals
Uniform pool
Uniform partial pressure
of gases within alveolar
spaces
Alveolar lungs
More surface area and
elasticity
For greater metabolic
demands

Alveolar lungs
 Rate of Gas Transfer
Respiratory organs are designed to match the
rate of ventilation to the rate of perfusion
Metabolic cost of O2 will be higher, therefore
respiration will be inefficient
If perfusion is too rapid, blood will only be
partially oxygenated
If perfusion is too slow, blood will linger too long
in the organ which cannot take additional oxygen
 Rate of Gas Transfer
Ratio of ventilation to perfusion changes with
activity levels and with oxygen availability in the
environment
Mammals (1:1)
High metabolic demands and tidal ventilation
Some reptiles (5:1)
Low metabolic demands; tend to take a breath every minute
or so
Some fishes (35:1)
Water contains less dissolved oxygen than an equal volume
of air
 Breathing in water
Water holds up 1/30 as much oxygen than air
Fishes
high ventilation rate due to gills and
countercurrent pattern of flow
High oxygen extraction (80-90%)
Mammals
Low oxygen extraction (about 25%)
 Breathing in Air
Water is denser than air
Tidal movement requires less energy
Lungs are recessed in cavities
Exposed to evaporation
Tidal method of ventilation and countercurrent
flow
Aves (unidirectional flow and crosscurrent flow)