What is the function of lamellae in fish gills?

In fishes, gill lamellae are used to increase the surface area between the surface area in contact with the environment to maximize gas exchange (both to attain oxygen and to expel carbon dioxide) between the water and the blood. In fish gills there are two types of lamellae, primary and secondary.

What is a gill lamellae?

Definition: Multi-tissue structure that is the transverse vertical platelet on the gill filament, through which capillaries run. The primary gill lamellae carry numerous fine layers called secondary lamellae which are the actual regions of respiration and excretion. http://www.briancoad.com/Dictionary/G.htm.

What are the function of the gill slits and gill lamellae?

The gills take oxygen from the water and let water whisk away carbon dioxide and ammonia from the blood vessels in the gills. Gill filaments are the red, fleshy part of the gills; they take oxygen into the blood. Each filament has thousands of fine branches (lamellae) that are exposed to the water.

What are the characteristics of gill lamellae?

Each lamella comprises vertical rows of filaments upon the outer head of which are complex arrays of cilia that create a flow of water through the gill, form a filtration barrier, and transport retained particles to food grooves in the dorsal…

What is the function of lamellae in fishes?

In fishes, gill lamellae are used to increase the surface area between the surface area in contact with the environment to maximize gas exchange (both to attain oxygen and to expel carbon dioxide) between the water and the blood. In fish gills there are two types of lamellae, primary and secondary.

How does the gill filament of a bony fish work?

The gills also regulate levels of mineral ions and the pH of the blood, as well as being the primary site of nitrogenous waste excretion, in the form of ammonia. The gill filaments of bony fishes are also called “primary lamellae.” They are intricate structures that have a large surface area.

How are the gill lamellae used in the body?

The secondary gill lamellae are small lamellae that come out of the primary ones and are used to further increase the contact area. Both types of lamellae are used to increase the amount of oxygen intake of the blood. Both types of lamellae contain huge amounts of capillaries and are the sites where the exchange…

What is the structure of gills in fishes?

The structure of gills has been studied extensively in Indian fishes by light transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The gill comprises of gill rakers, gill arch, gill filaments (Primary gill lamellae and lamellae) (Fig. 5.3a & b). A complete gill is known as holobranch. It consists of a bony or cartilaginous arches.