How do arthropods exchange gases?

Answer 1

There are several methods arthropods use for gas exchange; insects have holes in their segments called spiracles, connected to a trachea and tubules which deliver oxygen directly to tissues without needing to go through a bloodstream; and also remove waste gasses. Arachnids may use a type of simple lung called a book lung, comparable to a book gill in a similar stacked spatial arrangement for some aquatic arthropods. Other marine arthropods use gills for gas exchange, such as crabs and lobsters; crabs can continue to use gills on land so long as they remain moist. The simpler and smaller arthropods are able to perform gas exchange across their entire body surface and need no additional specialized gas exchange structures.

Answer 2

Terrestrial arthropods like insects get rid of carbon dioxide via tubules called trachioles (and the trachea) connected directly to the tissues, which diffuses out holes called spiracles in their body segments, a system which is also responsible for oxygenation of tissues. In larger organisms this method would be too slow to be practical; despite a high surface area to volume ratio of smaller arthropods some assist this gas exchange by rhythmically contracting abdomenal muscles which compress and expand the tubules and hasten gas exchange. For aquatic arthropods like crustaceans, gills are used to eliminate carbon dioxide and also nitrogenous waste. Some arthropods use gills on land so long as the gills can be kept moist.

Answer 3

Land-dwelling INSECTS have external openings called spiracles that lead to a network of canals called tracheae that deliver oxygen deep into the body. Spiders have compressible book lungs. Water-dwelling crustaceans (crayfish, plankton species) have gills.

Answer 4

Arthropods do have a circulatory system, but its design is open. Their internal body cavity (hemocoel) bathes the organs in circulatory fluid called hemolymph which combines the function of our blood and lymph fluid. This contains water, salts, nutrients, and oxygen-carrying molecules. The primary carrier of oxygen is hemocyanin, which is copper-based instead of our iron-based hemoglobin; when exposed to air it turns bluish. Unlike us, where the oxygen carrying molecule is bound to proteins in our blood cells, hemocyanin just floats around freely. Usually they have a simple dorsal heart, and the fluid drains into open pores as part of circulation.

One problem of having an open circulatory system is that it is difficult to direct circulatory fluid to a specific location; but when arthropods move, it helps to get the fluid flowing around to where it's needed. This design works ok for smaller creatures where the effects of surface tension are more significant, but would not work for us with our much larger size. This is a significant reason why the arthropod maximum size is limited, but, as with all engineering considerations, complexity can be a liability and the advantage of this simple design is one reason they have such a vast domain on Earth.

Note that many terrestrial arthropods such as insects oxygenate their tissues directly from the air through special pores called spiracles, connected to tiny tubules, the trachea and tracheoles connected directly to the tissues.

Answer 5

Aquatic arthropods breathe using gills and a spiracle.

spiracle

Arthropods breathe using gills borne on appendages or body segments

Answer 6

they get their oxygen by using their spiracles to obtain it in

Answer 7

catching prey & feeding on it.

Answer 8

Yup, just like us. They breathe through spiracles, little holes leading to tubes in their abdomen where their vital organs are.