Insect respiratory system isthe most accurate reflection of their lifestyle. Since these creatures are all the time above the ground, they breathe exclusively thanks to the trachea, which they have much more developed than other people on our planet. For the sake of justice, it is worth to emphasize that there are some above-classes of insects that live in the aquatic environment, or often there are. In this case, the respiratory system of insects is represented by gills. However, these are extremely rare species of this class, so we will also examine them very briefly. Well, let's move on to a more detailed study of this section of biology.
So, the insect's respiratory systemappears to us in the form of trachea. From them emanate numerous ramifications, which are distributed throughout all vital organs and systems of the calf. The entire body, with the exception of the head (i.e., the thoracic region and the abdomen), is covered with spiracle outlet openings. They form the tracheal system, thanks to which most insects can breathe through the surface of their bodies.
It is worth noting that these spiracles are well protected.from environmental stimuli with special valves. They respond quickly to the intake of air thanks to well-developed muscles. It is also important to know that the spiracles are on the sides of each segment of the body. The size of their openings is adjustable, due to which the tracheal lumen changes.
To understand thoroughly how insects breathe,it is important first of all to learn that every tracheal system, which is located in the body, is always ventilated. The necessary air exchange occurs due to the fact that the valves, which are located along the body, roughly speaking, open and close according to a certain schedule, that is, coordinated. For example, consider how a similar process occurs in the locust. At the time of air entry, the front 4 spiracles open (among them are two thoracic and two abdominal anterior ones). At this time, all the others (6 rear) are in the closed position. After the air has entered the body, all spiracles are closed, and then the opening takes place in the following sequence: 6 rear open, and 4 front remain closed.
Many years ago, scientists are considering how to breatheinsects, noticed that their bodies in a certain way are compressed and unclenched. This process turned out to be synchronous with the process of oxygen ingress into the body, and therefore it was concluded that many representatives of arthropods breathe precisely thanks to standard mechanical actions. Thus, the insect respiratory system can function due to contractions of individual abdomen sections. This type of "breathing" is peculiar mainly to all terrestrial creatures. Those individuals who live partially or fully in the water, are characterized by a contraction of some thoracic regions. It is also important to remember that it is the contraction of the muscles that occurs as you exhale. When the air enters the body, all the abdominal and thoracic segments of the insect, on the contrary, expand and completely relax.
It is the trachea, as mentioned above,The insect respiratory system is presented. For children, this concept may be too complicated, so if you explain this biological process to your child, then tell it to begin with what this respiratory organ looks like. In virtually all insects, each trachea is a separately existing trunk. It comes precisely from the valve through which the spiracle passes. From the tracheal tube emanate branches, which are presented in the form of a spiral. Each branch is formed from a very dense cuticle, which is always securely fixed in its place. Due to this, the branches do not fall down, do not tangle, because in the insect's body there are always gaps through which oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor can normally circulate, without which life of this class is unreal.
Немного по-другому выглядит дыхательная система у insects that can fly. In this case, their organisms are equipped with so-called air bags. They are formed due to the fact that the tracheal tubes expand. Moreover, these extensions are much larger than the original width of the respiratory organ. Another characteristic feature of such bags is that they do not have spiral seals, because they behave inside the body of an insect much more mobile. Expansion and contraction of air bags in flying insects occur passively. During inhalation, the body increases, during exhalation, respectively, decreases. This process involves only the muscles that control everything. It is also important to note that the respiratory system of insects that are flying, is designed so that they can capture a larger amount of oxygen for a longer period.
The arthropods of the waters are like fish,have gills and gill openings. In this case, the respiratory process is carried out all the same thanks to the trachea, but this system is closed in the body. Thus, oxygen from water enters the body not through the spiracles, but through the gill cuts, after which it enters the tubes and spirals. If the insect is arranged in such a way that with the process of growing it is selected from the aquatic environment, begins to live on the ground or in the air, then the gills become a rudiment that disappears. The tracheal system begins to develop more actively, tubes and spirals grow stronger, and the breathing process has nothing to do with the gills.
We briefly examined which respiratory systemin insects, how it is characteristic and what its species can be found in nature. If you dig deeper, you can find out that the respiratory systems of arthropods of different categories are very different from each other, and most often their characteristics depend on the habitat of certain species.
