The Importance of Oxygen in Animals
Oxygen is important for many reasons. One of those many reasons is without it animals would not be able to preform cellular respiration, which is an important component of life. Oxygen in cellular respiration is used to make energy. Cellular respiration is a process that releases energy by breaking down food molecules, like glucose, in the presence of oxygen. After releasing, the energy is stored at ATP. Then the mitochondria uses this ATP energy to gives the cells energy to perform out their jobs. This keeps the animal going and alive. The formula for ATP is C6H12O6 + 6 O2 -------> 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy (ATP) or glucose + oxygen ---------> carbon dioxide + water + energy. Oxygen is found in the respiratory system, which is a body system needed for cellular respiration. In the respiratory system oxygen in taken in, and out, carbon dioxide is released. In animals oxygen is carried in a protein called hemoglobin, found in red blood cells. When a human breathes in the oxygen first goes through the nasal cavity, then the trachea, which then lead it to the bronchi. From the bronchi it goes to the bronchioles, which is how the oxygen gets to the blood. The bronchioles diffuse the oxygen into the blood and then into the cells.
Respiration/Gas Exchange in Feather Stars!
Respiration or gas exchange in a Feather Star happens through both a water vascular system and diffusion. Feather Stars have a system that consists of water-filled canals in them called the water-vascualr or ambulacral. These canals connect out to the tube feet of the feather stars, which extend from the body - poking out through holes in the skeleton. Part of the water vascular system, the tube feet have suction cups that suck in water. This is not only the way feather stars move but also how they preform respiration. This is where diffusion now takes place. The tube feet are so thin-walled that diffusion takes place with the oxygen in the water. (6) Diffusion in of oxygen and diffusion out of carbon dioxide. Diffusion is the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration, until equilibrium. So what happening is, the oxygen from the water in the tube feet is transferring into the feather star, where there is less oxygen and oxygen is needed. The same with the carbon dioxide, but that is leaving the feather star.