Compare and contrast the circulation of each and based on this, explain WHY we are warm-blooded, while frogs and turtles are cold-blooded.
Hint: It has something to do with aerobic respiration and ATP/heat production when burning fuel.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The circulatory system plays a crucial role in maintaining body temperature as well as providing nutrients and oxygen to the cells. In this response, we will compare and contrast the circulatory system of warm-blooded mammals and cold-blooded amphibians, and explain why warm-blooded mammals have a higher body temperature than cold-blooded amphibians.
Answer:
Warm-blooded mammals, such as humans, have a highly efficient circulatory system that allows them to maintain a constant body temperature. In these animals, the heart is divided into four chambers, with the left and right sides separated by a septum. Oxygen-rich blood is pumped out of the left ventricle and delivered to the body’s organs and tissues, while oxygen-poor blood is returned to the right atrium and then pumped back to the lungs for re-oxygenation.
On the other hand, cold-blooded amphibians, such as frogs and turtles, have a less efficient circulatory system that is not able to maintain a constant body temperature. These animals have a three-chambered heart, with two atria and one ventricle. Blood from the lungs and skin returns to the right atrium, mixes with deoxygenated blood from the body, and then pumps into the single ventricle. From there, a mix of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is sent to the organs and tissues.
The reason why warm-blooded mammals are able to maintain a higher body temperature than cold-blooded amphibians has to do with their increased metabolic rate. Warm-blooded mammals undergo aerobic respiration, which produces a large amount of ATP and heat. This process occurs in the mitochondria of cells, where glucose and oxygen are converted into water, carbon dioxide, and energy in the form of ATP.
In contrast, cold-blooded amphibians have a lower metabolic rate and undergo anaerobic respiration, which produces less ATP and heat. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of cells, where glucose is converted into lactic acid and energy in the form of ATP.
Therefore, warm-blooded mammals are able to maintain a higher body temperature due to their higher metabolic rate and increased ATP/heat production during aerobic respiration, while cold-blooded amphibians have a lower metabolic rate and rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature.
