The Respiratory System - Gas Exchange
Why is oxygen necessary for living things?
Oxygen is very important for living things. Many living things, including humans and turtles, get their energy from oxygen through cellular respiration. "Oxygen is the most important for keeping us alive because body cells need it for energy and growth. Without oxygen, the body's cells would die."(2) The way that oxygen enters and carbon dioxide exits the body is through the respiratory system. "The primary function of the respiratory system is to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide."(1) When oxygen goes into an organism's body, carbon dioxide will then come out. In cellular respiration, glucose and oxygen enter a mitochondria in the organism's body. A bond of three phosphates is made and energy (ATP) is released when one of the bonds breaks. The end result of cellular respiration is ATP, which is a form of energy that benefits all living things.(3)
(1)http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/lung_and_airway_disorders/biology_of_the_lungs_and_airways/exchanging_oxygen_and_carbon_dioxide.html
(2)http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/lungs.html
(3)http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/celres.html
(1)http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/lung_and_airway_disorders/biology_of_the_lungs_and_airways/exchanging_oxygen_and_carbon_dioxide.html
(2)http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/lungs.html
(3)http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/celres.html
Gas Exchange of the Snapping Turtle
The Snapping Turtle is able to stay under water for a long time, but has to come up for air eventually. (1) The turtle's respiratory system is very similar to that of a human's. Though, these turtles spend a lot of time underneath the water, so their respiratory system is a bit different. (2) The turtle breathes by "flexing the membrane" behind its lungs. When the turtle inhales the membrane is pulled back, and when the turtle exhales it is pulled forward.(3) When turtles hide in their shells as a form of defense, they cannot breathe the correct way. So, they carbon dioxide levels in their lungs increase.(3)
(1)http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_question_answer006.html
(2)http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/2000/Pleasants/resp.htm
(3)http://www.chelydra.org/turtle_basic_anatomy_respiratory_system.html
(1)http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_question_answer006.html
(2)http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/2000/Pleasants/resp.htm
(3)http://www.chelydra.org/turtle_basic_anatomy_respiratory_system.html