Question

Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds?
A. To stop mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
B. To maintain body temperature
C. To suffice higher energy need
D. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint:- The oxygenated blood has the presence of a higher amount of oxygen than carbon dioxide. Whereas the deoxygenated blood has the presence of a higher amount of carbon dioxide than oxygen. The right side of the body pumps deoxygenated blood whereas the left side of the body pumps oxygenated blood.

Complete Answer:-
The main function of blood is the transmission of oxygen from the heart to different parts of the body. The deoxygenated blood from different parts of the body will enter the heart to get oxygenated. The heart is made up of different numbers of chambers in different organisms. In the case of fishes, the heart is made up of two chambers. Amphibians' heart is made up of three chambers. The heart of mammals and birds are made up of four chambers. They have the presence of auricles and ventricles. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the systemic veins, whereas the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins. Blood flows from the right atrium into the right ventricle and then it is pumped to the lungs to be oxygenated. From the lungs, it will go into the left atrium and then to the left ventricle. From there, it is pumped to the systemic circulation.
In the case of birds and mammals, they show double circulation where both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood are separated. Warm-blooded animals and birds maintain their body temperature by cooling their body when they are present in hotter temperatures. They warm their body when they live in cold areas. To maintain their temperature in different environmental conditions, these organisms require a higher amount of oxygen that in turn will help in the production of high amounts of energy. They must separate the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood so that it will make their circulatory system more efficient and also it will not allow the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

The correct answer is Option D.

Note:- If mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood occurs, then it will cause cyanosis which will cause blue-red-violet coloration that is characteristic of deoxygenated blood in the veins. In the case of fishes, they have a three-chambered heart. Due to this, there will be mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in fishes since the ventricles are partially separated.