Campbell Biology

Figure 42.23  A tracheal system. Tracheoles Mitochondria Muscle fiber

Tracheae Air Body
sac Tracheole cell

Air sacs

Trachea 2.5 μm

External opening Air

(a) The respiratory system of an insect consists (b) Rings of chitin keep the tracheae open, (c) The TEM above shows cross sections of
of branched internal tubes. The largest allowing air to enter and pass into smaller tracheoles in a tiny piece of insect flight
tubes, called tracheae, connect to external tubes called tracheoles. The branched muscle. Each of the numerous mitochondria
openings spaced along the insect’s body tracheoles deliver air directly to cells in the muscle cells lies within about 5 μm of
surface. Air sacs formed from enlarged throughout the body. Tracheoles have closed a tracheole.
portions of the tracheae are found near ends filled with fluid (blue-gray). When the
organs that require a large supply of oxygen. animal is active and using more O2, most of
the fluid is withdrawn into the body. This
increases the surface area of air-filled
tracheoles in contact with cells.

open to the outside (Figure 42.23). At the tips of the finest entirely on lungs for gas exchange. Turtles are an exception;
branches, a moist epithelial lining enables gas exchange by they supplement lung breathing with gas exchange across
diffusion. Because the tracheal system brings air within a moist epithelial surfaces continuous with their mouth or
very short distance of virtually every body cell in an insect, anus. Lungs and air breathing have evolved in a few aquatic
the efficient exchange of O2 and CO2 does not require the vertebrates as adaptations to living in oxygen-poor water or
participation of the animal’s open circulatory system. to spending part of their time exposed to air (for instance,
when the water level of a pond recedes).
Tracheal systems often exhibit adaptations directly related
to bioenergetics. Consider, for example, a flying insect, which Mammalian Respiratory Systems: A Closer Look
consumes 10 to 200 times more O2 when in flight than it does
at rest. In many flying insects, cycles of flight muscle contrac- In mammals, branching ducts convey air to the lungs,
tion and relaxation pump air rapidly through the tracheal which are located in the thoracic cavity, enclosed by the
system. This pumping improves ventilation, bringing ample ribs and diaphragm. Air enters through the nostrils and is
O2 to the densely packed mitochondria that support the high then filtered by hairs, warmed, humidified, and sampled
metabolic rate of flight muscle (see Figure 42.23). for odors as it flows through a maze of spaces in the nasal
cavity. The nasal cavity leads to the pharynx, an intersec-
Lungs tion where the paths for air and food cross (Figure 42.24).
When food is swallowed, the larynx (the upper part of
Unlike tracheal systems, which branch throughout the insect the respiratory tract) moves upward and tips the epiglottis
body, lungs are localized respiratory organs. Representing over the glottis, which is the opening of the trachea, or
an infolding of the body surface, they are typically subdi- windpipe. This allows food to go down the esophagus to the
vided into numerous pockets. Because the respiratory surface stomach (see Figure 41.9). The rest of the time, the glottis is
of a lung is not in direct contact with all other parts of the open, enabling breathing.
body, the gap must be bridged by the circulatory system,
which transports gases between the lungs and the rest of From the larynx, air passes into the trachea. The cartilage
the body. Lungs have evolved both in organisms with open that reinforces the walls of both the larynx and the trachea
circulatory systems, such as spiders and land snails, and in keeps this part of the airway open. Within the larynx of most
vertebrates. mammals, the exhaled air rushes by a pair of elastic bands of
muscle called vocal folds or, in humans, vocal cords. Sounds
Among vertebrates that lack gills, the use of lungs for gas are produced when muscles in the larynx are tensed, stretch-
exchange varies. Amphibians rely heavily on diffusion across ing the cords so that they vibrate. High-pitched sounds result
external body surfaces, such as the skin, to carry out gas from tightly stretched cords vibrating rapidly; low-pitched
exchange; lungs, if present, are relatively small. In contrast, sounds come from looser cords vibrating slowly.
most reptiles (including all birds) and all mammals depend

940 Unit seven  Animal Form and Function

Figure 42.24  The mammalian respiratory system. From the nasal cavity and pharynx, inhaled air
passes through the larynx, trachea, and bronchi to the bronchioles, which end in microscopic alveoli lined
by a thin, moist epithelium. Branches of the pulmonary arteries convey oxygen-poor blood to the alveoli;
branches of the pulmonary veins transport oxygen-rich blood from the alveoli back to the heart.

Nasal Branch of Branch of
cavity pulmonary vein pulmonary artery
(oxygen-rich (oxygen-poor
blood) blood)

Terminal Alveoli
bronchiole 50 μm

Pharynx Left
lung
Larynx
(Esophagus)
Trachea
Right lung

Bronchus Capillaries

Bronchiole

Diaphragm

(Heart) ▲ Dense capillary bed
enveloping alveoli (SEM)

Animation: The Human Respiratory System

The trachea branches into two bronchi (singular, bronchus), the capillaries across the epithelium of the alveolus and
one leading to each lung. Within the lung, the bronchi branch into the air space.
repeatedly into finer and finer tubes called bronchioles.
The entire system of air ducts has the appearance of an Lacking cilia or significant air currents to remove parti-
inverted tree, the trunk being the trachea. The epithelium cles from their surface, alveoli are highly susceptible to con-
lining the major branches of this respiratory tree is covered tamination. White blood cells patrol the alveoli, engulfing
by cilia and a thin film of mucus. The mucus traps dust, foreign particles. However, if too much particulate matter
pollen, and other particulate contaminants, and the beating reaches the alveoli, the defenses can be overwhelmed, lead-
cilia move the mucus upward to the pharynx, where it can ing to inflammation and irreversible damage. For example,
be swallowed into the esophagus. This process, sometimes particulates from cigarette smoke that enter alveoli can
referred to as the “mucus escalator,” plays a crucial role in cause a permanent reduction in lung capacity. For coal
cleansing the respiratory system. miners, inhalation of large amounts of coal dust can lead
to silicosis, a disabling, irreversible, and sometimes fatal
Gas exchange in mammals occurs in alveoli (singular, lung disease.
alveolus; see Figure 42.24), air sacs clustered at the tips of
the tiniest bronchioles. Human lungs contain millions of The film of liquid that lines alveoli is subject to surface
alveoli, which together have a surface area of about 100 m2, tension, an attractive force that has the effect of minimiz-
50 times that of the skin. Oxygen in the air entering the ing a liquid’s surface area (see Concept 3.2). Given their tiny
alveoli dissolves in the moist film lining their inner sur- diameter (about 0.25 mm), alveoli would be expected to
faces and rapidly diffuses across the epithelium into a web collapse under high surface tension. It turns out, however,
of capillaries that surrounds each alveolus. Net diffusion that these air sacs produce a mixture of phospholipids and
of carbon dioxide occurs in the opposite direction, from proteins called surfactant, for surface-active agent, which
coats the alveoli and reduces surface tension.

chapter 42  Circulation and Gas Exchange 941

Figure 42.25 Having surveyed the route that air follows when we breathe,
we’ll turn next to the process of breathing itself.
Inquiry  What causes respiratory distress syndrome?
Concept Check 42.5
Experiment  Mary Ellen Avery, a research fellow at Harvard University,
hypothesized that a lack of surfactant caused respiratory distress syn- 1. Why is an internal location for gas exchange tissues
drome (RDS) in preterm infants. To test this hypothesis, she obtained advantageous for terrestrial animals?
autopsy samples of lungs from infants who had died of RDS or from
other causes. She extracted material from the samples and let it 2. After a heavy rain, earthworms come to the surface. How
form a film on water. Avery then measured the tension (in dynes per would you explain this behavior in terms of an earth-
centimeter) across the water surface and recorded the lowest surface worm’s requirements for gas exchange?
tension observed for each sample.
Results  Avery noted a pattern when she grouped the samples based 3. MAKE CONNECTIONS Describe similarities in the coun-
on the body mass of the infant: less than 1,200 g (2.7 pounds) and tercurrent exchange that facilitates respiration in fish
1,200 g or greater. and thermoregulation in geese (see Concept 40.3).

Surface tension (dynes/cm) 40 For suggested answers, see Appendix A.

30 Concept  42.6

20 Breathing ventilates the lungs

10 RDS deaths Like fishes, terrestrial vertebrates rely on ventilation to main-
Deaths from tain high O2 and low CO2 concentrations at the gas exchange
0 (n = 9) (n = 0) (n = 29) (n = 9) other causes surface. The process that ventilates lungs is breathing, the
<1,200 g ≥1,200 g alternating inhalation and exhalation of air. A variety of
mechanisms for moving air in and out of lungs have evolved,
Body mass of infant as we will see by considering breathing in amphibians, birds,
and mammals.
Data from  M. E. Avery and J. Mead, Surface properties in relation to atelectasis and
hyaline membrane disease, American Journal of Diseases of Children 97:517–523 (1959). How an Amphibian Breathes

Conclusion  For infants with a body mass of 1,200 g or greater, An amphibian such as a frog ventilates its lungs by positive
the material from those who had died of RDS exhibited much higher pressure breathing, inflating the lungs with forced air-
surface tension than the material from those who had died from other flow. Inhalation begins when muscles lower the floor of an
causes. Avery inferred that infants’ lungs normally contain a surface- amphibian’s oral cavity, drawing in air through its nostrils.
tension-reducing substance (now called surfactant) and that a lack of Next, with the nostrils and mouth closed, the floor of the oral
this substance was a likely cause of RDS. The results from infants with cavity rises, forcing air down the trachea. Exhalation follows
a body mass less than 1,200 g were similar to those from infants as air is expelled by the elastic recoil of the lungs and by com-
who had died from RDS, suggesting that surfactant is not normally pression of the muscular body wall. When male frogs puff
produced until a fetus reaches this size. themselves up in aggressive or courtship displays, they dis-
rupt this breathing cycle, taking in air several times without
WHAT IF? If the researchers had measured the amount of surfactant in allowing any release.
lung samples from the infants, what relationship would you expect between
the amount of surfactant and infant body mass? How a Bird Breathes

In the 1950s, Mary Ellen Avery did the first experiment When a bird breathes, it passes air over the gas exchange sur-
linking a lack of surfactant to respiratory distress syndrome face in only one direction. Air sacs situated on either side of
(RDS), a disease common in infants born 6 weeks or more the lungs act as bellows that direct air flow through the lungs.
before their due dates (Figure 42.25). (The average full- Within the lungs, tiny channels called parabronchi serve as
term human pregnancy is 38 weeks.) Later studies revealed the sites of gas exchange. Passage of air through the entire
that surfactant typically appears in the lungs after 33 weeks system—air sacs and lungs—requires two cycles of inhalation
of development. In the 1950s, RDS killed 10,000 infants and exhalation (Figure 42.26).
annually in the United States, but artificial surfactants
are now used successfully to treat early preterm infants. Ventilation in birds is highly efficient. One reason is that
Treated babies with a body mass over 900 g (2 pounds) at birds pass air over the gas exchange surface in only one direc-
birth usually survive without long-term health problems. tion during breathing. In addition, incoming fresh air does
For her contributions, Avery received the National Medal not mix with air that has already carried out gas exchange,
of Science. maximizing the partial pressure difference with blood flow-
ing through the lungs.
942 Unit seven  Animal Form and Function

Figure 42.26  The avian respiratory system. This diagram traces Figure 42.27  Negative pressure breathing. A mammal
a breath of air through the respiratory system of a bird. breathes by changing the air pressure within its lungs relative to the
pressure of the outside atmosphere.
Anterior
air sacs Rib cage Rib cage
expands as gets smaller
Posterior rib muscles as rib muscles
air sacs contract. relax.

Lungs Airflow
Air tubes
(parabronchi)
in lung

1 mm Lung

Posterior Lungs Anterior Diaphragm
air sacs 3 air sacs
1 INHALATION: Diaphragm 2 EXHALATION: Diaphragm
2 4 contracts (moves down). relaxes (moves up).

WHAT IF? The walls of alveoli contain elastic fibers that allow the alveoli
to expand and contract with each breath. If the alveoli lost their elasticity, how

would that affect gas exchange in the lungs?

1 BioFlix Animation: Mechanics of Breathing

Two cycles of inhalation and exhalation are required to pass Whereas inhalation is always active and requires work,
one breath through the system: exhalation is usually passive. During exhalation, the muscles
controlling the thoracic cavity relax, and the volume of the
1 First inhalation: Air fills the posterior air sacs. cavity is reduced. The increased air pressure in the alveoli
2 First exhalation: Posterior air sacs contract, pushing air forces air up the breathing tubes and out of the body.

into lungs. Within the thoracic cavity, a double membrane surrounds
3 Second inhalation: Air passes through lungs and fills the lungs. The inner layer of this membrane adheres to the out-
side of the lungs, and the outer layer adheres to the wall of the
anterior air sacs. thoracic cavity. A thin space filled with fluid separates the two
4 Second exhalation: As anterior air sacs contract, air that layers. Surface tension in the fluid causes the two layers to stick
together like two plates of glass separated by a film of water:
entered body at first inhalation is pushed out of body. The layers can slide smoothly past each other, but they cannot
be pulled apart easily. Consequently, the volume of the tho-
How a Mammal Breathes racic cavity and the volume of the lungs change in unison.

To understand how a mammal breathes, think about filling a The rib muscles and diaphragm are sufficient to change
syringe. By pulling back on the plunger, you lower the pressure lung volume when a mammal is at rest. During exercise, other
in the syringe, drawing gas or fluid through the needle into muscles of the neck, back, and chest increase the volume of
the syringe chamber. Similarly, mammals employ negative the thoracic cavity by raising the rib cage. In kangaroos and
pressure breathing—pulling, rather than pushing, air some other mammals, locomotion causes a rhythmic move-
into their lungs (Figure 42.27). Using muscle contraction to ment of organs in the abdomen, including the stomach and
actively expand the thoracic cavity, mammals lower air pres- liver. The result is a piston-like pumping motion that pushes
sure in their lungs below that of the air outside their body. and pulls on the diaphragm, further increasing the volume of
Because gas flows from a region of higher pressure to a region air moved in and out of the lungs.
of lower pressure, the lowered air pressure in the lungs causes
air to rush through the nostrils and mouth and down the The volume of air inhaled and exhaled with each breath
breathing tubes to the alveoli. is called tidal volume. It averages about 500 mL in resting
humans. The tidal volume during maximal inhalation and
Expanding the thoracic cavity during inhalation involves exhalation is the vital capacity, which is about 3.4 L and
the animal’s rib muscles and the diaphragm, a sheet of 4.8 L for college-age women and men, respectively. The air
skeletal muscle that forms the bottom wall of the cavity. that remains after a forced exhalation is called the residual
Contracting the rib muscles pulls the ribs upward and the volume. With age, the lungs lose their resilience, and
sternum outward. This has the effect of expanding the rib
cage, the front wall of the thoracic cavity. At the same time,
the diaphragm contracts, expanding the thoracic cavity
downward. It is this descending movement of the diaphragm
that is analogous to a plunger being drawn out of a syringe.

chapter 42  Circulation and Gas Exchange 943

residual volume increases at the expense Figure 42.28  Homeostatic control of breathing.
of vital capacity.
NORMAL BLOOD pH
Because the lungs in mammals do not (about 7.4)
completely empty with each breath, and
because inhalation occurs through the Blood CO2 level falls Blood pH falls
same airways as exhalation, each inhala- and pH rises. due to rising levels of
tion mixes fresh air with oxygen-depleted CO2 in tissues (such as
residual air. As a result, the maximum Medulla detects
PO2 in alveoli is always considerably less decrease in pH of when exercising).
than in the atmosphere. The maximum cerebrospinal fluid.
PO2 in lungs is also less for mammals than
for birds, which have a unidirectional Cerebrospinal Carotid
flow of air through the lungs. This is one fluid arteries
reason why mammals function less well
than birds at high altitude. For example, Signals from Aorta Sensors in major
humans have great difficulty obtaining medulla to rib blood vessels detect
enough O2 when climbing at high eleva- muscles and decrease in blood pH.
tions, such as those in the Himalayas. diaphragm increase
However, bar-headed geese and several rate and depth of Medulla Medulla receives
other bird species easily fly through ventilation. oblongata signals from major
high Himalayan passes during their blood vessels.
migrations.
VISUAL SKILLS Suppose a person began breathing very rapidly while resting. Tracing a path along
this negative-feedback control circuit, describe the effect on blood CO2 levels and the steps by which
homeostasis would be restored.

Control of Breathing in Humans Through the reactions shown above, the higher CO2 concentra-
tion leads to an increase in the concentration of H+, lowering
Although you can voluntarily hold your breath or breathe pH. Sensors in the medulla as well as in major blood vessels
faster and deeper, most of the time your breathing is regu- detect this pH change. In response, the medulla’s control cir-
lated by involuntary mechanisms. These control mechanisms cuits increase the depth and rate of breathing (see Figure 42.28).
ensure that gas exchange is coordinated with blood circula- Both remain high until the excess CO2 is eliminated in exhaled
tion and with metabolic demand. air and pH returns to a normal value.

The neurons mainly responsible for regulating breath- The blood O2 level usually has little effect on the breathing
ing are in the medulla oblongata, near the base of the brain control centers. However, when the O2 level drops very low
(Figure 42.28). Neural circuits in the medulla form a pair of (at high altitudes, for instance), O2 sensors in the aorta and
breathing control centers that establish the breathing rhythm. the carotid arteries in the neck send signals to the breathing
When you breathe deeply, a negative-feedback mechanism control centers, which respond by increasing the breathing
prevents the lungs from overexpanding: During inhalation, rate. The regulation of breathing is modulated by additional
sensors that detect stretching of the lung tissue send nerve neural circuits, primarily in the pons, a part of the brain next
impulses to the control circuits in the medulla, inhibiting to the medulla.
further inhalation.
Breathing control is effective only if ventilation is matched
In regulating breathing, the medulla uses the pH of the to blood flow through alveolar capillaries. During exercise,
fluid in which it is bathed as an indicator of blood CO2 con- for instance, such coordination couples an increased breath-
centration. The pH can be used in this way because blood CO2 ing rate, which enhances O2 uptake and CO2 removal, with
is the main determinant of the pH of cerebrospinal fluid, the an increase in cardiac output.
fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Carbon dioxide
diffuses from the blood to the cerebrospinal fluid, where Concept Check 42.6
it reacts with water and forms carbonic acid (H2CO3). The
H2CO3 can then dissociate into a bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) 1. How does an increase in the CO2 concentration in the
and a hydrogen ion (H+): blood affect the pH of cerebrospinal fluid?

CO2 + H2O L H2CO3 L HCO3- + H+ 2. A drop in blood pH causes an increase in heart rate.
What is the function of this control mechanism?
Consider what happens when metabolic activity increases,
for example, during exercise. Increased metabolism raises the 3. WHAT IF? If an injury tore a small hole in the mem-
concentration of CO2 in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. branes surrounding your lungs, what effect on lung
function would you expect?

For suggested answers, see Appendix A.

944 Unit seven  Animal Form and Function

Concept  42.7 2 L of O2 per minute during intense exercise, and all of it must
be carried in the blood from the lungs to the active tissues.

Adaptations for gas exchange At normal body temperature and air pressure, however, only
include pigments that bind
and transport gases 4.5 mL of O2 can dissolve into a liter of blood in the lungs.
Even if 80% of the dissolved O2 were delivered to the tissues,
the heart would still need to pump 555 L of blood per minute!

The high metabolic demands of many animals necessitate the In fact, animals transport most of their O2 bound to pro-
exchange of large quantities of O2 and CO2. Here we’ll exam- teins called respiratory pigments. Respiratory pigments
ine how blood molecules called respiratory pigments facili- circulate with the blood or hemolymph and are often con-
tate this exchange through their interaction with O2 and CO2.
We’ll also investigate physiological adaptations that enable tained within specialized cells. The pigments greatly increase
animals to be active under conditions of high metabolic load
or very limiting PO2. As a basis for exploring these topics, let’s the amount of O2 that can be carried in the circulatory fluid
summarize the basic gas exchange circuit in humans. (from 4.5 to about 200 mL of O2 per liter in mammalian
blood). In our example of an exercising human with an O2
Coordination of Circulation and Gas Exchange delivery rate of 80%, the presence of a respiratory pigment

reduces the cardiac output necessary for O2 transport to a
manageable 12.5 L of blood per minute.

A variety of respiratory pigments have evolved in animals.

To appreciate how the gas exchange and circulatory systems With a few exceptions, these molecules have a distinctive

function together, let’s track the variation in partial pressure color (hence the term pigment) and consist of a metal bound

for O2 and CO2 across these systems (Figure 42.29). 1 During to a protein. One example is the blue pigment hemocyanin,
inhalation, fresh air mixes with air remaining in the lungs. which has copper as its oxygen-binding component and is

2 The resulting mixture formed in the alveoli has a higher found in arthropods and many molluscs.

PO2 than the blood flowing through the alveolar capillaries. The respiratory pigment of many invertebrates and almost
Consequently, there is a net diffusion of O2 down its partial all vertebrates is hemoglobin. In vertebrates, it is contained in

pressure gradient from the air in the alve-

oli to the blood. Meanwhile, the presence

of a PCO2 in the alveoli that is higher in the Figure 42.29  Loading and unloading of respiratory gases.
capillaries than in the air drives the net
120 6 Exhaled air Inhaled air 1 160
diffusion of CO2 from blood to air. 3 By 27
the time the blood leaves the lungs in the Alveolar CO2 O2 Alveolar 0.2
PO2 PCO2 epithelial Heart spaces 2
pulmonary veins, its PO2 and PCO2 match cells Alveolar PO2 PCO2
the values for the air in alveoli. After return- 40 45 capillaries
Blood 104
ing to the heart, this blood is pumped PO2 PCO2 entering Pulmonary 40
alveolar veins and
through the systemic circuit. capillaries systemic 3 PO2 PCO2
4 In the systemic capillaries, gradients 5 arteries
104
of partial pressure favor the net diffusion Pulmonary 40
arteries
of O2 out of the blood and CO2 into the and systemic PO2 PCO2
blood. These gradients exist because cellu- veins

lar respiration in the mitochondria of cells

near each capillary removes O2 from and
adds CO2 to the surrounding interstitial
fluid. 5 Having unloaded O2 and loaded
CO2, the blood is returned to the heart
and pumped to the lungs again. 6 There,

exchange occurs across the alveolar capil-

laries, resulting in exhaled air enriched in <40 >45 4 Body CO2 Systemic
CO2 and partially depleted of O2. tissue O2 capillaries
PO2 PCO2
Respiratory Pigments

The low solubility of O2 in water (and thus WHAT IF?  If you consciously forced more air out of your lungs each time you exhaled, how would that
in blood) poses a problem for animals that affect the values shown in the figure?
rely on the circulatory system to deliver
O2. For example, a person requires almost BioFlix® Animation: Gas Exchange in the Human Body

chapter 42  Circulation and Gas Exchange 945

erythrocytes and has four sub- Figure 42.30  Hemoglobin. Figure 42.31  Dissociation curves for hemoglobin at 37°C.

units. Each consists of a poly- 100
O2 unloaded
peptide and a heme group, a O2 saturation of hemoglobin (%) to tissues

cofactor that has an iron atom 80 at rest
60
at its center (Figure 42.30). 40

Each iron atom binds one O2 unloaded
to tissues
molecule of O2, so a hemoglo- during
bin molecule can carry four O2 exercise
molecules. Like all respiratory

pigments, hemoglobin binds Iron 20
Heme
O2 reversibly, loading O2 in
the lungs or gills and unload-

ing it elsewhere in the body. This process is enhanced by 0
0
cooperativity between the hemoglobin subunits (see 20 40 60 80 100

Concept 8.5). When O2 binds to one subunit, the others Tissues during Tissues Lungs
change shape slightly, increasing affinity for O2. When four
O2 molecules are bound and one subunit unloads its O2, the exercise at rest
other three subunits more readily unload O2, as an associated
change in shape lowers their affinity for O2. PO2 (mm Hg)

Cooperativity in O2 binding and release is evident in the (a) PO2 and hemoglobin dissociation at pH 7.4. This dissociation
dissociation curve for hemoglobin (Figure 42.31a). Over the curve shows the relative amounts of O2 bound to hemoglobin
exposed to solutions with different aPbOo2.uAt 9t 8a%POs2aotfur1a0t0edmwmithHg,
typical in the lungs, hemoglobin is

range of PO2 where the dissociation curve has a steep slope, O2 . At a aPbOo2 uotf 40 mm Hg, common in resting tissues, hemo-
even a slight change in PO2 causes hemoglobin to load or globin is 70% saturated, nearly a third of its O2 having
unload a substantial amount of O2. The steep part of the curve
corresponds to the range of PO2 found in body tissues. When been released by dissociation. As shown in the above graph,
cells in a particular location begin working harder—during
hemoglobin can release much more O2 to metabolically very
active tissues, such as muscle tissue during exercise.

exercise, for instance—PO2 dips in their vicinity as the O2 is O2 saturation of hemoglobin (%) 100
consumed in cellular respiration. Because of subunit coopera-
pH 7.4
tivity, a slight drop in PO2 causes a relatively large increase in 80 pH 7.2
the amount of O2 the blood unloads.
60 Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is especially efficient at delivering O2 to tis- retains less
sues actively consuming O2. However, this increased efficiency
results not from O2 consumption, but rather from CO2 pro- O2 at lower pH
duction. As tissues consume O2 in cell respiration, they also 40 (higher CO2
produce CO2. As we have seen, CO2 reacts with water, forming
carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of its surroundings. Low concentration)

20

pH decreases the affinity of hemoglobin for O2, an effect called 0
the Bohr shift (Figure 42.31b). Thus, where CO2 production 0 20 40 60 80 100
is greater, hemoglobin releases more O2, which can then be
used to support more cellular respiration. PO2 (mm Hg)

Hemoglobin also assists in buffering the blood—that is, (b) pH and hemoglobin dissociation. In very active tissues, CO2
from cellular respiration reacts with water to form carbonic acid,
preventing harmful changes in pH. In addition, it has a minor decreasing pH. Because hydrogen ions affect hemoglobin shape,
a drop in pH shifts the O2 dissociation curve toward the right (the
role in CO2 transport, the topic we’ll explore next. lBoowherrsphHift,).suFoprpoargtiinvgeninPcOre2,ahseedmcoegllluolbairnrereslpeiarasetisonm.ore O2 at a

Carbon Dioxide Transport representing about 5% of the CO2, binds to hemoglobin and
is transported in erythrocytes.
Only about 7% of the CO2 released by respiring cells is trans-
ported in solution in blood plasma. The rest diffuses from When blood flows through the lungs, the relative partial
plasma into erythrocytes and reacts with water (assisted
by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase), forming H2CO3. The pressures of CO2 favor the net diffusion of CO2 out of the
H2CO3 readily dissociates into H+ and HCO3-. Most H+ binds blood. As CO2 diffuses into alveoli, the amount of CO2 in the
to hemoglobin and other proteins, minimizing change in blood decreases. This decrease shifts the chemical equilibrium
blood pH. Most HCO3- diffuses out of the erythrocytes and is
transported to the lungs in the plasma. The remaining HCO3-, in favor of the conversion of HCO3- to CO2, enabling further

946 Unit seven  Animal Form and Function

net diffusion of CO2 into alveoli. Overall, the PCO2 gradient is with little muscular effort and glide passively for prolonged
sufficient to drive about a 15% reduction in PCO2 during passage periods. During a dive, their heart rate and O2 consumption
of blood through the lungs. rate decrease, and most blood is routed to vital tissues: the
brain, spinal cord, eyes, adrenal glands, and, in pregnant
Animation: Transport of Respiratory Gases seals, the placenta. Blood supply to the muscles is restricted
or, during extended dives, shut off altogether. During these
Respiratory Adaptations of Diving Mammals dives, a Weddell seal’s muscles deplete the O2 stored in myo-
globin and then derive their ATP from fermentation instead
Evolution Animals vary greatly in their ability to spend of respiration (see Concept 9.5).

time in environments in which there is no access to their How did these adaptations arise over
the course of evolution? All mammals,
normal respiratory medium—for example, including humans, have a diving reflex
triggered by a plunge or fall into water:
when an air-breathing mammal swims un- When the face contacts cold water, the
heart rate immediately decreases and
derwater. Whereas most humans, even ex- blood flow to body extremities is reduced.
Genetic changes that strengthened this
pert divers, cannot hold their breath longer reflex would have provided a selective
advantage to seal ancestors foraging
than 2–3 minutes or swim deeper than underwater. Also, genetic variations that
increased traits such as blood volume or
20 m, the Weddell seal of Antarctica rou- myoglobin concentration would have
improved diving ability and therefore
tinely plunges to 200–500 m and remains been favored during selection over many
generations.
there for a period ranging from 20 minutes
Concept Check 42.7
to more than an hour. Another diving
1. What determines whether O2 and CO2 undergo net
mammal, the Cuvier’s beaked whale, can diffusion into or out of capillaries? Explain.

reach depths of 2,900 m—nearly 2 miles— 2. How does the Bohr shift help deliver O2 to very active
tissues?
and stay submerged for more than 2 hours!
3. WHAT IF? A doctor might give bicarbonate (HCO3-) to a
What enables these amazing feats? patient who is breathing very rapidly. What is the doctor
assuming about the patient’s blood chemistry?
One evolutionary adaptation of diving
For suggested answers, see Appendix A.
mammals to prolonged stays underwater

is a capacity to store large amounts of ▲ Weddell seal

O2 in their bodies. The Weddell seal has
about twice the volume of blood per kilogram of body mass as

a human. Furthermore, the muscles of seals and other diving

mammals contain a high concentration of an oxygen-storing

protein called myoglobin in their muscles. As a result, the

Weddell seal can store about twice as much O2 per kilogram of
body mass as can a human.

Diving mammals not only have a relatively large O2 stock-
pile but also have adaptations that conserve O2. They swim

42 Chapter Review Go to MasteringBiology™ for Videos, Animations, Vocab Self-Quiz,
Practice Tests, and more in the Study Area.
Summary of Key Concepts
moves fluid between cells and the organs that carry out exchange
Concept  42.1 with the environment. Arthropods and most molluscs have an
open circulatory system, in which hemolymph bathes organs
Circulatory systems link exchange directly. Vertebrates have a closed circulatory system, in which
blood circulates in a closed network of pumps and vessels.
surfaces with cells throughout The closed circulatory system of vertebrates consists of blood,
blood vessels, and a two- to four-chambered heart. Blood
the body (pp. 920–924) VOCAB pumped by a heart ventricle passes to arteries and then to the
SELF-QUIZ capillaries, sites of chemical exchange between blood and inter-
In animals with simple body plans, a gastrovascular goo.gl/6u55ks stitial fluid. Veins return blood from capillaries to an atrium,
which passes blood to a ventricle. Fishes, rays, and sharks have a
cavity mediates exchange between the environment and cells that single pump in their circulation. Air-breathing vertebrates have
can be reached by diffusion. Because diffusion is slow over long two pumps combined in a single heart. Variations in ventricle
distances, most complex animals have a circulatory system that

chapter 42  Circulation and Gas Exchange 947

number and separation reflect adaptations to different environ- Fluid leaks out of capillaries and is returned to blood by the
ments and metabolic needs. lymphatic system, which also defends against infection.

? How does the flow of a fluid in a closed circulatory system differ from ? If you placed your forearm on your head, how, if at all, would the
the movement of molecules between cells and their environment with blood pressure in that arm change? Explain.

regard to distance traveled, direction traveled, and driving force?

Concept  42.2 Concept  42.4

Coordinated cycles of heart contraction drive Blood components function in exchange,
double circulation in mammals (pp. 924–927) transport, and defense (pp. 932–937)

The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs, where it loads Whole blood consists of cells and cell fragments (platelets) sus-
O2 and unloads CO2. Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs enters pended in a liquid matrix called plasma. Plasma proteins influ-
the heart at the left atrium and is pumped to the body tissues ence blood pH, osmotic pressure, and viscosity, and they function
by the left ventricle. Blood returns to the heart through the in lipid transport, immunity (antibodies), and blood clotting
right atrium. (fibrinogen). Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, transport O2. Five
types of white blood cells, or leukocytes, function in defense
Exhaled air Inhaled air against microorganisms and foreign substances in the blood.
Platelets function in blood clotting, a cascade of reactions that
Alveolar CO2 O2 Alveolar converts plasma fibrinogen to fibrin.
epithelial spaces
cells A variety of diseases impair function of the circulatory system. In
Alveolar sickle-cell disease, an aberrant form of hemoglobin disrupts
capillaries erythrocyte shape and function, leading to blockage of small
blood vessels and a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of
Pulmonary Pulmonary the blood. In cardiovascular disease, inflammation of the arterial
arteries veins lining enhances deposition of lipids and cells, resulting in the
potential for life-threatening damage to the heart or brain.

? In the absence of infection, what percentage of cells in human blood
are leukocytes?

Systemic Systemic Concept  42.5
veins arteries
Gas exchange occurs across specialized
Heart respiratory surfaces (pp. 937–942)

CO2 Systemic At all sites of gas exchange, a gas undergoes net diffusion from
O2 capillaries

Body tissue where its partial pressure is higher to where it is lower. Air is
more conducive to gas exchange than water because air has a
higher O2 content, lower density, and lower viscosity.
The cardiac cycle, a complete sequence of the heart’s pumping The structure and organization of respiratory surfaces differ among
and filling, consists of a period of contraction, called systole,
and a period of relaxation, called diastole. Heart function can be animal species. Gills are outfoldings of the body surface special-
assessed by measuring the pulse (number of times the heart beats ized for gas exchange in water. The effectiveness of gas exchange in
each minute) and cardiac output (volume of blood pumped by some gills, including those of fishes, is increased by ventilation
each ventricle per minute). and countercurrent exchange between blood and water. Gas
exchange in insects relies on a tracheal system, a branched net-
The heartbeat originates with impulses at the sinoatrial (SA) work of tubes that bring O2 directly to cells. Spiders, land snails, and
node (pacemaker) of the right atrium. They trigger atrial con- most terrestrial vertebrates have internal lungs. In mammals, air
traction, are delayed at the atrioventricular (AV) node, and inhaled through the nostrils passes through the pharynx into the
are then conducted along the bundle branches and Purkinje trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and dead-end alveoli, where gas
fibers, triggering ventricular contraction. The nervous system, exchange occurs.
hormones, and body temperature affect pacemaker activity.
? Why does altitude have almost no effect on an animal’s ability to rid
itself of CO2 through gas exchange?
? What changes in cardiac function might you expect after surgical
replacement of a defective heart valve?

Concept  42.3 Concept  42.6

Patterns of blood pressure and flow reflect Breathing ventilates the lungs (pp. 942–944)
the structure and arrangement of blood
vessels (pp. 927–931) Breathing mechanisms vary substantially among vertebrates.
An amphibian ventilates its lungs by positive pressure
Blood vessels have structures well adapted to function. Capillaries breathing, which forces air down the trachea. Birds use a
have narrow diameters and thin walls that facilitate exchange. system of air sacs as bellows to keep air flowing through the
The velocity of blood flow is lowest in the capillary beds as a result lungs in one direction only, preventing the mixing of incoming
of their large total cross-sectional area. Arteries contain thick and outgoing air. Mammals ventilate their lungs by negative
elastic walls that maintain blood pressure. Veins contain one-way pressure breathing, which pulls air into the lungs when the
valves that contribute to the return of blood to the heart. Blood rib muscles and diaphragm contract. Incoming and outgoing
pressure is altered by changes in cardiac output and by variable air mix, decreasing the efficiency of ventilation.
constriction of arterioles.
Sensors detect the pH of cerebrospinal fluid (reflecting CO2
948 Unit seven  Animal Form and Function concentration in the blood), and a control center in the brain
adjusts breathing rate and depth to match metabolic demands.

Additional input to the control center is provided by sensors in Level 3: Synthesis/Evaluation
the aorta and carotid arteries that monitor blood levels of O2 as
well as CO2 (via blood pH). 8. DRAW IT  Plot blood pressure against time for one cardiac cycle
in humans, drawing separate lines for the pressure in the aorta,
? How does air in the lungs differ from the fresh air that enters the body the left ventricle, and the right ventricle. Below the time axis,
during inspiration? add a vertical arrow pointing to the time when you expect a
peak in atrial blood pressure.
Concept  42.7
9. EVOLUTION CONNECTION  One opponent of the movie
Adaptations for gas exchange include pigments monster Godzilla is Mothra, a mothlike creature with a
that bind and transport gases (pp. 945–947) wingspan of several dozen meters. The largest known insects
were Paleozoic dragonflies with half-meter wingspans. Focusing
In the lungs, gradients of partial pressure favor the net diffusion on respiration and gas exchange, explain why giant insects are
of O2 into the blood and CO2 out of the blood. The opposite situ- improbable.
ation exists in the rest of the body. Respiratory pigments such
as hemocyanin and hemoglobin bind O2, greatly increasing the 10. SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY 
INTERPRET THE DATA  100
amount of O2 transported by the circulatory system. The hemoglobin of a human hOe2 smaotgulroabtiino (n o%)f 80 Fetus Mother
Evolutionary adaptations enable some animals to satisfy extraor- fetus differs from adult 60
dinary O2 demands. Deep-diving mammals stockpile O2 in blood hemoglobin. Compare the
and other tissues and deplete it slowly. dissociation curves of the
two hemoglobins in the 40
? How are the roles of a respiratory pigment and an enzyme similar? graph at right. Describe how 20

they differ, and propose a 0 0 20 40 60 80 100
hypothesis to explain the
Test Your Understanding benefit of this difference.
PO2 (mm Hg)
Level 1: Knowledge/Comprehension
11. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
AND SOCIETY  Hundreds of studies have linked smoking
1. Which of the following respiratory systems is not with cardiovascular and lung disease. According to most
closely associated with a blood supply? health authorities, smoking is the leading cause of preventable,
(A) the lungs of a vertebrate premature death in the United States. What are some
(B) the gills of a fish PRACTICE arguments in favor of a total ban on cigarette advertising?
(C) the tracheal system of an insect TEST What are arguments in opposition? Do you favor or oppose
(D) the skin of an earthworm
goo.gl/CUYGKD

2. Blood returning to the mammalian heart in a pulmonary vein such a ban? Explain.

drains first into the 12. WRITE ABOUT A THEME: Interactions  Some athletes
prepare for competition at sea level by sleeping in a tent
(A) left atrium. (C) left ventricle. minowuhnitcahinPeOe2riss kept low. When climbing high peaks, some
(B) right atrium. (D) right ventricle. breathe from bottles of pure O2. In a short essay

3. Pulse is a direct measure of (100–150 words), relate these behaviors to the mechanism of O2
(A) blood pressure. transport in the human body and to physiological interactions
(B) stroke volume. with our gaseous environment.
(C) cardiac output.
(D) heart rate. 13. SYNTHESIZE YOUR KNOWLEDGE 

4. When you hold your breath, which of the following blood gas The diving bell
changes first leads to the urge to breathe? spider (Argyroneta
(A) rising O2 (C) rising CO2 aquatica) stores air
(B) falling O2 (D) falling CO2 underwater in a net of
silk. Explain why this
5. One feature that amphibians and humans have in common is adaptation could be
(A) the number of heart chambers. more advantageous
(B) a complete separation of circuits for circulation. than having gills,
(C) the number of circuits for circulation. taking into account
(D) a low blood pressure in the systemic circuit. differences in gas
exchange media and
Level 2: Application/Analysis gas exchange organs
among animals.
6. If a molecule of CO2 released into the blood in your left toe
is exhaled from your nose, it must pass through all of the
following except
(A) the pulmonary vein.
(B) the trachea.
(C) the right atrium.
(D) the right ventricle.

7. Compared with the interstitial fluid that bathes active muscle For selected answers, see Appendix A.
cells, blood reaching these cells in arterioles has a
(A) higher PPbOCiO2c.2a.rbonate For additional practice questions, check out the Dynamic Study
(B) higher concentration. Modules in MasteringBiology. You can use them to study on
(C) greater your smartphone, tablet, or computer anytime, anywhere!
(D) lower pH.

chapter 42  Circulation and Gas Exchange 949