Sharks are fish and, like other species of fish, use gills to breathe rather than lungs. There are usually between five and seven gill arches, each bearing one gill slit.
Do Sharks Have Lungs?
No, sharks have gill slits instead of lungs. Sharks use these gill slits to oxygenate their blood. The spiracle assists in the process of taking water in.
As the shark moves forwards, water is taken into the mouth and over the gills. This is called “ram ventilation”.
When at rest, the shark actively pumps water over its gills. There are gill rakers, which are perpendicular to the gill arches. The rakers support the secondary bars, which direct the water.
Do Sharks Have Operculum?
In most other fish species, gill stils are covered by the operculum, which acts as a lid over the gill. However, sharks do not have this covering.
There is also a modified slit, called the spiracle, which lies immediately behind the eye on the shark’s head.
How Do Sharks Breathe?
Movement is necessary for breathing in sharks. Therefore, the condition of the muscles is of utmost importance to the respiration and the very survival of the shark.
1. Gills Slits
As explained before, water full of oxygen travels over the gill slits. This can can be achieved by ram ventilation or active pumping.
2. Blood Gets Oxygenated By Water
Deoxygenated blood travels to the s-shaped heart, which comprises two chambers. From here, the blood is pumped through the ventral aorta to the afferent brachial arteries. As the blood reaches the gills, it is oxygenated by the water.
3. Oxygenated Blood Travel Through The Body
Then, the blood is transported via the efferent brachial arteries into the dorsal aorta and then on to the rest of the body, including all muscles and organs.
4. Deoxygenated Blood Returns
Once deoxygenated, the blood returns through the posterior cardinal veins, into the posterior cardinal sinuses and then on into the heart ventricle. The faster the shark moves through the water, the more efficient this process becomes.
This is to prevent tiring during bursts of speed, when it pursues its prey. This accelerated process is known as the “ramjet principle”.
Facts About The Shark Respiratory System
The direction in which the blood flows is always opposite to that of the water. This allows the maximum amount of oxygen to pass from the water to the blood and is called the “counter current flow”.
Sufficient oxygen in the blood is essential for the muscles to be able to move and work as efficiently as possible.
How Bottom Feeding Sharks Breathe
Interestingly, bottom-feeding sharks do not move through the water like others do. Therefore, they need to be able to pump the water over their gills effectively.
In addition, they need to be able to eliminate sand and gravel from entering their gill slits. This is done by pumping the water through the spiracle and the gills, ridding the water of any sandy sediment.
The heart is not required to be very large or strong to accomplish this task. Therefore, sharks, especially larger species, are only capable of short bursts of increased activity. They do not have the stamina for continued action.