Answer to Question #247305 in Human Anatomy and Physiology for bloody

Question

Compare the anatomical and physiological features of the respiratory system of a bovine and that of an avian.

Answer 1

The mammalian lung has reciprocating ventilation with large terminal air spaces (alveoli) while the avian lung has a flow-through system with small air capillaries. As a result the environment of the pulmonary capillaries is very different between the mammals and birds.