Essay On Respiration

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Respiration is the process of obtaining oxygen from the external environment and eliminating carbon dioxide. There are two phases of respiration; external respiration and internal respiration, and also three major respiratory structures: gills, integumentary exchange areas and lungs. External respiration takes place in the capillaries of gills or lungs, though in some vertebrates, such as amphibians, the skin is also utilized, which are the integumentary exchange areas. Internal respiration is the cellular use of carbohydrates, which then produces carbon dioxide, water and releases energy. This is created by a complex chain of chemical reactions called cellular respiration with the help of respiratory enzymes found in the protoplasm of all cells. The function of the respiratory system is to provide oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide and other waste gases. An air breathing organ, in addition to gill respiration, appeared in fishes about 400 million years ago. It consisted of a single primitive lung ventilated by a buccal pump. This breathing system was first adopted from ...

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