Explain how counter-current exchange works and give a biological example, naming the structure involved, what is...

Explain how counter-current exchange works and give a biological example, naming the structure involved, what is being exchanged and, why??

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Expert Solution

Counter-current mechanism involves exchange between two fluids which are flowing in opposite directions.

Examples include exchange of O2 in fish gills, water absorption in kidney and heat exchange in tetrapod limbs.

Mechanism of counter current with respect to gills for oxygen exchange:

The direction of flow of water in the gills is in opposite diection as compared to the flow of blood in the lamellae. Inorder to ensure exchange of oxygen along the entire length, a constant gradient of oxygen is maintained.

Countercurrent mechanisms have small gradients over long distances to ensure continuous exhange. Greater the gradient, greater is the rate of exchange.

The rate of exchange decreases and dies out when the gradient starts to decrease along the length. The maximum rate of exchange can be 50% in this mechanism and the efficiency of countercurrent exchange can be increase by increasing the length of gill and lamella.

When the water in the gills starts to move in, it is fully saturated with oxygen. As the oxygen starts to gets exchanged along the length of the gills, the oxygen saturation decreases. At a certain point, the saturation of oxygen in both the blood and the water are same, i.e, they are in equilibrium. Since there is no more concentration gradient, the blood can no longer exchange oxygen from the water.

gladiator answered 2 years ago

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