Question

Animals have different types of respiratory systems depending on the environment of their habitat. Fish live in the water and use gills to breathe. Humans who live on land, breathe air through their lungs. Identify the similarities between lungs and gills.

Answer 1

Lungs and gills have similarities in their functions and structures, including being specialized for gas exchange, facilitating the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and having a large surface area for efficient gas exchange.

Step-by-step explanation:

The similarities between lungs and gills are:

1. Both lungs and gills are organs specialized for gas exchange. They allow the transfer of oxygen from the external environment to the internal tissues and the removal of carbon dioxide.
2. In both systems, oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is expelled. Oxygenated air or water is taken in during inhalation, and oxygen diffuses across the surfaces of the lungs or gills into the bloodstream. Carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, diffuses from the bloodstream into the lungs or gills and is expelled during exhalation or venting.
3. Both lungs and gills have a large surface area for gas exchange. This is achieved by the structure of the organ, with lungs having alveoli and gills having many highly branched filaments or lamellae. The large surface area maximizes the efficiency of gas exchange.

Answer 2

1. Both are respiratory organs found in vertebrates.

2. Both enable the inhalation of oxygen and exhalation of carbon dioxide in the bodies of their host.

3. Respiratory membranes present in both make the exchange of gases easier.

4. Blood vessels found around them enable the breathing process.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gills are respiratory organs which can be found in animals that live in water. These include fishes, amphibians like frogs, anthropods like insects, and annelids like worms. Gills are surrounded by respiratory membranes known as gill lamellae which have a large surface area that makes breathing easier. Blood vessels also are found around gills.

The lung is also a respiratory organ found in humans. It runs from a windpipe known as the trachea and branches into bronchi which contain the bronchioles. Alveoli ducts contain alveoli sacs and then alveoli which are membranes that enable the breathing process.

Both are similar because they are respiratory organs found in animals with backbones. They are surrounded by blood vessels and membranes that make the breathing process easier.