Gills Function
Gills Function - Related Videos
11:24
A Time Differential Staining Technique Coupled with Full Bilateral Gill Denervation to Study Ionocytes in Fish
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Cited by 1 •
2015
This manuscript describes a protocol to track the re-distribution of branchial ionocytes and their innervation using a time differential staining technique coupled with full bilateral gill denervation.
09:13
Macro-Rheology Characterization of Gill Raker Mucus in the Silver Carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
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Cited by 1 •
2020
This protocol presents a method to perform rheology characterization of mucus that resides on gill rakers (GRs) of the silver carp. Viscoelastic characteristics of GR-mucus, obtained by measuring viscosity, storage and loss moduli, are evaluated for the apparent yield stress to understand the filter feeding mechanism in GRs.
02:45
Functional Groups
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2020
Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of that molecule. For example, the presence of certain functional groups on a molecule will make them hydrophilic, whereas others will make them hydrophobic. These functional groups are an indispensable part of organic chemistry and important components of biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each...
05:15
Zebrafish Electrocardiography (ECG): A Minimally Invasive Assay to Evaluate Cardiac Function
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2023
This video shows how to perform electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) measurements, a test which measures the electrical activity of the heart, on a zebrafish.
07:31
A Computerized Functional Skills Assessment and Training Program Targeting Technology Based Everyday Functional Skills
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Cited by 9 •
2020
This training protocol uses computerized training to teach technology-related everyday functional skills. These skills include financial skills, travel and transit, as well as medication management.
FAQs
Countercurrent flow keeps water moving across the respiratory surfaces in the opposite direction to blood flow. This arrangement preserves a concentration gradient along the filaments and lamellae, allowing oxygen to continue diffusing into the bloodstream rather than reaching equilibrium too quickly. As a result, fish can extract oxygen efficiently from surrounding water, including environments where oxygen availability is limited.
Gill filaments and lamellae provide thin, highly vascularized surfaces where diffusion can occur between water and blood. Their structure places circulating blood close to the surrounding water, supporting oxygen entry and carbon dioxide removal. This specialized organization is central to respiratory performance because it creates an effective interface between the aquatic environment and the animal’s internal circulation.
Gills also help maintain internal chemical balance. They can regulate ions, contribute to acid-base balance, and remove nitrogenous waste from the body. These functions connect respiratory anatomy with broader physiological control, so changes in gill performance may affect more than cellular respiration. In aquatic animals, the gills therefore serve as an important interface for both gas exchange and homeostasis.
Because gills exchange gases and other substances directly with surrounding water, environmental conditions are closely linked to their performance. Oxygen availability is especially important, since many aquatic animals must obtain oxygen from water that may contain relatively little of it. Studying gill function can therefore reveal how animal physiology responds to water quality and changing aquatic ecosystem conditions.
Research on gill function can examine how respiratory exchange relates to water conditions and animal physiology. Investigators may use the gills as a biological connection between an aquatic animal and its environment, considering oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide removal, ion regulation, acid-base balance, and nitrogenous waste removal. Such information helps link individual physiological responses with broader ecosystem conditions.
Gill function is relevant to aquaculture because cultured aquatic animals depend on water for respiratory exchange and internal chemical regulation. Knowledge of oxygen uptake, ion balance, acid-base control, and nitrogenous waste removal helps explain how animals interact with their rearing environment. It also provides a physiological basis for considering water quality when evaluating animal survival and performance in culture systems.