Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
4th Edition
ISBN: 9781305389892
Author: Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan
Publisher: Cengage Learning
bartleby

Videos

Question
Book Icon
Chapter 46, Problem 1TYK
Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Respiratory medium is a medium or environmental source, in which animal’s exchange gases with their surroundings. It is a source of oxygen (O2) for living beings.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 1TYK

Correct answer:

Air and water, describe the respiratory medium.

Explanation of Solution

Justification for the correct answer:

Option (e) states that air and water describe the respiratory medium. This is a true statement as gas exchange involves intake of O2 and release of CO2 (carbon dioxide). This gas exchange occurs in the air for terrestrial animals or in water for aquatic animals, or both in air and water for amphibians and fishes. Hence, the option (e) is correct.

Justification for the incorrect answers:

Option (a) states that liver of an amphibian, in which the rate of diffusion is high describes the respiratory medium. This is a wrong statement because liver is neither a respiratory organ nor does an exchange of gases take place in it. So, it is an incorrect option.

Option (b) states that neurons in the human brain, where CO2 moves from neurons to the blood. This is not correct because the level of CO2 controls breathing and regulates pulmonary ventilation of a body. Therefore, it does not act as a respiratory medium but helps in maintaining the concentration gradient of O2 and CO2 across the respiratory system. So, it is an incorrect option.

Option (c) states that O2 in the blood of humans serves as a medium of respiration. It is incorrect because O2 is a gas that is exchanged in a medium and serves as an important component of respiration not as a medium. So, it is an incorrect option.

Option (d) states that epithelial cells of a fish that are in contact with air. This is a wrong statement because epithelial cells of a fish are not an environmental source of O2 but act as a respiratory surface driving the exchange of gases across the medium. So, it is an incorrect option.

Hence, options, (a), (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that water and air are sources of O2 and act as a sink, in which CO2 is released, thus act as a respiratory medium.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
which of the following processes causes most of the carbon dioxide from the blood to move into the alveoli? a. passive transport using a carrier proteins b. active transport using energy c. conversion to carbon dioxide d. diffusion down a concentration gradient
Why is it that gram per gream, a mouse's respiratory rate is higher than that of an elephant's? a. The mouse can run faster than an elephant. b. The mouse has a larger brain than an elephant. c. The mouse has more surface area, so needs more energy to stay warm. d. The mouse has more surface area, so needs less energy to stay warm.
The alveoli of mammalian lungs do not contain 20.9% O2 (that is, the percentage of O2 in atmospheric dry air) because    A. there is dead space in the trachea and bronchial tree and the air in the lungs is humidified.   B. mammals do not normally ventilate the lungs at a high enough rate.   C. the trachea and bronchi are too small in volume to contain this amount of O2.   D. mammal lungs have too many alveoli to ventilate.   E. some O2 has been exchanged with the blood before reaching the alveoli.
Knowledge Booster
Background pattern image
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
Text book image
Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
Biology
ISBN:9781305389892
Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillan
Publisher:Cengage Learning
Text book image
Concepts of Biology
Biology
ISBN:9781938168116
Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James Wise
Publisher:OpenStax College
Text book image
Complete Textbook Of Phlebotomy
Biology
ISBN:9781337464314
Author:Hoeltke
Publisher:Cengage
Text book image
BIOLOGY:CONCEPTS+APPL.(LOOSELEAF)
Biology
ISBN:9781305967359
Author:STARR
Publisher:CENGAGE L
Text book image
Basic Clinical Lab Competencies for Respiratory C...
Nursing
ISBN:9781285244662
Author:White
Publisher:Cengage
Respiratory System; Author: Amoeba Sisters;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_j-LD2YEqg;License: Standard youtube license