The structural and chemical limitations to respiratory gas exchange existing between the ambient medium and the cell are comprehensively treated. Beginning with an examination of the natural oscillations of respiratory gases in both terrestrial and aquatic environments, Vertebrate Gas Exchange details the structures involved in convecting the medium (air or water), the morphometrics of capillary gas transfers, and gas transfer kinetics. Important features include details on measurement techniques associated with tissue capillary supply and gas exchange kinetics.

1 Respiratory Gas Tensions in the Environment.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Natural Variations in Environmental Gas Tensions.- 3 Animals in Secluded Environments: Impact on Ambient Gas Tensions.- 4 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 2 Modeling of Gas Exchange in Lungs, Gills and Skin.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Gas Exchange in Steady State.- 3 Gas Exchange in Unsteady State.- References.- 3 Recent Advances and Trends in the Comparative Morphometry of Vertebrate Gas Exchange Organs.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Models.- 3 Methods.- 4 Skin.- 5 Fish Gills.- 6 Lungs.- 7 Symmorphosis Revisited.- 8 Summary and Perspectives.- References.- 4 Morphometric Analysis of Tissue Capillary Supply.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Practical Considerations.- 3 0- and 1-D Indices.- 4 Linear Analyses.- 5 Planar Analyses.- 6 The Role of Capillaries in Oxygen Transport to Tissue.- References.- 5 Hemoglobin Physiology in Vertebrate Animals: a Cautionary Approach to Adaptationist Thinking.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Universal Patterns of Organization in Hemoglobin Structure.- 3 Pitfalls for Molecular Adaptationists.- 4 Hemoglobin Multiplicity and Polymorphism.- 5 Purpose and Design for Optimizing Strategies.- 6 Non-Standard Oxygen-Binding Curves.- 7 The Environment-Organism Problem.- 8 Fine Tuning to Meet Specific Environmental Challenge or Non-Adaptive OEC?.- 9 Hemoglobin Ontogeny and the Functionalist/Structuralist Dichotomy.- 10 Conclusions.- References.- 6 Kinetics of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Exchange.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Oxygen Exchange.- 3 Carbon Dioxide Exchange.- References.- 7 Acid-Base Regulation: Interrelationships Between Gaseous and Ionic Exchange.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Equilibria Between Gaseous and Nonvolatile Components of Buffer Systems.- 3 Transfer from the Site of Production to the Site of Elimination.- 4 Elimination ofAmmonia and CO2 from the Body Fluids.- 5 Accumulation of Volatile Metabolic End Products.- 6 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 8 Control and Co-Ordination of Gas Exchange in Water Breathers.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Oxygen Transfer.- 3 Carbon Dioxide Transfer.- 4 Ammonia Transfer.- 5 Interactions Between Carbon Dioxide and Ammonia Excretion.- 6 Sites of Control of Gas Transfer.- 7 Control Systems.- 8 Gill Diffusing Capacity.- 9 Blood Flow.- References.- 9 Control and Co-Ordination of Gas Exchange in Bimodal Breathers.- 1 Introduction to Bimodal Systems.- 2 Structural Adaptations for Bimodal Gas Exchange.- 3 Respiratory Gas Transfer.- 4 Co-Ordination of Aquatic and Aerial Breathing.- 5 Diving: Alternate Storage and Utilization of Oxygen.- 6 Ventilation-Perfusion Relationships in Bimodal Systems.- 7 Regulation of Dual Gas Transfer Systems.- 8 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 10 Control and Co-Ordination of Gas Exchange in Air Breathers.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Central Rhythm Generators.- 3 Feedforward and Feedback Control.- 4 Homeostatic Regulation.- References.