Respiratory Systems

How does it work (mechanical function/limits)?

What are the different respiratory strategies that
animals use (comparative physiology)?
Everything You Need to Know About
Respiratory Systems (almost)

One goal
Two mediums
Three processes
Four basic designs
The Goal of Respiration
Respiration sequence of events that result in the
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the
external environment and the mitochondria

But why?
Mitochondrial respiration

Mitochondria consume O2
to produce ATP
Produce CO2 in the
process
Organisms must have
mechanisms to obtain O2
from the environment and
get rid of CO2
Types of respiration
External respiration gas exchange at the respiratory
surface
Internal respiration gas exchange at the tissues
Mitochondrial respiration production of ATP via oxidation of
carbohydrates, amino acids, or fatty acids. Oxygen is
consumed and carbon dioxide is produced
Respiratory surface: Lungs, gills, skin

Mitochondrial respiration

External respiration

Internal respiration
Everything You Need to Know About
Respiratory Systems (almost)
One goal: All animals need to obtain O2 and get
rid of CO2.
Two mediums: Animals can use oxygen in either
air or water (rarely both).
Three processes: There are many clever ways
animals manage this, based on 3 basic
processes: Dissolution, Diffusion, Bulk flow.
Four designs: There are 4 general models for
external respiration.
 Everything You Need to Know About
Respiratory Systems (almost)
One goal.
Two mediums.
Three processes.
Four designs.

The rest is just examples of variation on a

theme (different solutions)

1. Variation tells us about evolution

2. All variation must operate within physical realities.
 4 Basic Designs of Respiration
BUT:
To understand how these work, we need to understand
rules governing the THREE key processes:

1. Dissolution
2. Diffusion
3. Bulk flow
The Physics of Respiratory Systems
Dissolution/solubility
All organisms need oxygen
to be dissolved in an
aqueous solution before it
can cross the cell membrane

Solubility: The amount of a

substance that will dissolve
in a given amount of a
solvent to give a saturated
solution under specified
conditions.
 The Physics of Respiratory Systems
Table 11.1

There will be ~30x more O2 dissolved in air than water.

Having enough oxygen in medium usually more of a
problem in water than air.
The Physics of Respiratory Systems
There will be ~30x more O2 dissolved in air than water.
Having enough oxygen in medium usually more of a
problem in water than air.

BUT also have to consider how readily it moves into/

out/through body

Solubility and diffusion coefficient

 The Physics of Respiratory Systems
1. Fick equation Diffusion
Diffusion of gases Diffusion is the movement of
molecules from a high
concentration to a low
concentration
Diffusion distance:
Slow over long distances
Fast over short distances
Other factors (Ficks Equation):
Particle size (dec), Temperature (inc), Concentration
difference (inc), Surface area (inc).
 The Physics of Respiratory Systems
Table 11.1

O2 and CO2 equal solubility in air, but O2 diffuses ~27% faster (lighter)
CO2 higher solubility in water, so CO2 diffuses ~20X faster (solub x diffusion)
The Physics of Respiratory Systems
There will be ~30x more O2 dissolved in air than water.
Having enough oxygen in medium usually more of a
problem in water than air.
O2 diffuses faster than CO2 in air.
CO2 diffuses about 20x faster than O2 in water.
CO2 production tends to limit respiration in air.
O2 consumption tends to limit respiration in water.
The Physics of Respiratory Systems
Bulk flow
Specific to respiration:
Movement of the medium
across the respiratory
surface

Dr. Obvious says: Harder to move water than air!

Everything You Need to Know About
Respiratory Systems (almost)
One goal.
Two mediums.
Three processes.
Four systems.

There are a vast number of different

solutions to the same problem.
Four systems

Greater size
Greater cost
Greater complexity
4 Basic Strategies (Designs)
Strategy 1: Be Small
Diffusion from the environment
Strategy 2: Embrace the Environment
Flow of external medium [air or water]
through the body
Strategy 3: Use Your Skin
Cutaneous Respiration/Diffusion, followed
by internal circulation
Strategy 4: Be Special
Specialized respiratory organs that use
Bulk flow and internal circulation
Strategy 1: Be Small
Diffusion (only) from the environment

Environment
Dissolution
O2
Cell O2
diffusion

Diffusion of gas moves across gradients

Strategy 1: Be Small
Diffusion (only) from the environment

Problems with diffusion only:

1. Surface needs to be moist
2. Boundary layer (gradient)
Cilia/flagella to mix/
move medium
Habitat with flow of
medium
3. Limited in size
Diffusion distance
Surface/area ratio
 The Physics of Respiratory Systems
1. Fick equation Diffusion
Diffusion of gases Diffusion is the movement of
molecules from a high
concentration to a low
concentration
Diffusion distance:
Slow over long distances
Fast over short distances
Other factors (Ficks Equation):
Particle size (dec), Temperature (inc), Concentration
difference (inc), Surface area (inc).
Surface Area to Volume Ratio

Figure 9.4
Strategy 1: Be Small
Diffusion (only) from the environment
As organisms grow larger:
i. the ratio of surface area to volume decreases (limits
the relative surface area available for diffusion)
ii. increases the diffusion distance/time

Ways to get around it:

i. Decrease metabolic rate
ii. Change shape: long and thin, flat, outcroppings.

Only very small organisms can rely solely on the

diffusion oxygen to support metabolism
Strategy 1: Be Small
Diffusion (only) from the environment

be hollow
can have diffusion internally, not only externally
Strategy 2: Embrace the Environment
Flow of external medium [air or water]
through the body

Bring environment to more cells

Diffusion ok, but how to deal with gas
depletion/accumulation?
Bulk flow!
Strategy 2: Embrace the Environment
Flow of external medium [air or water]
through the body

Bulk flow or
diffusion

Dissolution

Cellular O2
diffusion
Strategy 2: Embrace the Environment
Flow of external medium [air or water]
through the body

Bring environment to more cells

Diffusion ok, but how to deal with gas
depletion/accumulation?
Bulk flow!
But still limited in distance/size
Most animals have a circulatory system
Diffusion of gases across a (sometimes specialized)
respiratory surface accompanied by circulatory transport
(linking external and internal respiration)

O2 O2

External Respiratory Circulatory

system Tissue
medium surface
 Strategy 3: Use Your Skin
Cutaneous Respiration/Diffusion, followed by
internal circulation (a type of bulk flow)

Environment
Dissolution
Dissolution
O2
Surface O2
Diffusion

Internal fluid
Circulation
Internal
medium
Cellular O2
diffusion
Strategy 3: Use Your Skin
Found in most aquatic invertebrates and a few
vertebrates (and bird eggs)
Disadvantages:
i. Conflict between respiration and protection
ii. Generally confined to moist/aquatic envts
iii. Generally small, low surface area

Salamander Annelid Lake Titicaca frog

Strategy 4: Be Special
Bulk flow of medium across specialized organs
and internal circulation
Strategy 4: Be Special
Specialized respiratory organs

Usually require some sort of ventilation

(bulk flow of medium across surface)
Specialized respiratory surfaces
Allows rest of skin to be thick/protected

Protected in body cavity (sometimes); also allows it to

remain moist

Higher effective surface area (greater exchange)

Highly vascularized (lower diffusion distance)

Highly ventilated (no boundary effect)

Synchronized with circulatory system

Questions for Section 1
What is the main function of respiration?
How do the physical/chemical properties of air and water
affect their use as a respiratory medium?
How are dissolution, diffusion, and bulk flow integral to
respiration, and how do their physics affect respiration
systems?
What are the major advantages and disadvantages to
different general types of respiratory systems?
What are the advantages of specialized respiratory
surfaces?