Disclaimer: I’m assuming this question can be tagged multiple flairs, but biology might be the most fitting, forgive me if im wrong.
I had a random shower thought today, I remember learning about fish and how they breathe, but I dont remember the details. Do they inhale water (H2O) and then take the Oxygen, as a result exhaling 2 Hydrogen? Do fish always exhale air bubbles? I used to own some and I dont remember them doing that unless they went to the surface for a short period of time. I also assume they breathe and drink like we do, or do they only ‘drink’ water when they consume their food since its also saturated with water?
In: Biology
Gases like oxygen can diffuse (wiggle their way) into our bloodstream if the membrane protecting our blood is thin enough. That’s how our lungs work. They’re big sacks with lots of surface area where the oxygen can easily wiggle its way into our capillaries through very thin tissue. Water also usually has lots of oxygen floating around in it, just like in air. It’s not the H2O molecules providing oxygen, it’s the O2 that’s also in the water. So instead of having lungs to inhale air, fish pass the water over similarly “thin membranes” (in their gills) close to their blood, and the oxygen can diffuse into it. Gills don’t really work outside of water since it’s harder to get air to move through them in the same way. Hence the evolution of lungs.
Latest Answers