Why is gas exchange important:
Animals need gas exchange in order to receive air to live. Oxygen is very important to the body. Not only does it cleanse the body and give you breath to live, it also aids in cellular respiration which is essential to the body. The Oxygen diffuses into the alveoli or capillaries from an area of high concentration of Oxygen to low. Some animals have lungs that breath in oxygen and excrete Carbon Dioxide. Other animals, like fish, have gills. In humans, the air pathway is as follows: as the air enters the nasal cavity it goes to the epiglottis then the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and then diffused into the alveoli. Oxygen must also go into the blood for an organism to function. However, in all animals and plants there is an organelle called the mitochondria. This organelle provides energy for the cell during cellular respiration and is where the Oxygen ends up. In order to do this, the mitochondria breaks down nutrients into energy, or ATP. This gas exchange is very important because living things need this energy in order to live.
Gas Exchange in the angler fish:
The Angler Fish, unlike humans, uses organs called gills. These gills help the Angler Fish breath. Fish normally have four pairs of gills located in the gill chamber on either sides of the fish's head. To receive oxygen, the fish takes in oxygen dissolved water and pumps it through the gills. Once the water is moved inside the gill chambers, it comes in contact with the gill filaments and goes over it. The filaments are located on a gill arch where the lamellae, or extensions of the filaments. Inside the lamellae are blood vessels which takes oxygen from the water and releases Carbon Dioxide. The excess water and waste is then released through the gill openings and the process begins again.