Gill respiration, or branchial respiration, is a respiratory process observed in aquatic organisms such as fish and amphibians.
Specialized structures called gills, located in the gill arches, extract dissolved oxygen from water and release carbon dioxide. This exchange occurs across thin, vascularized membranes. Gill filaments increase surface area for efficient gas exchange. Oxygen uptake supports aerobic metabolism, crucial for the organism’s survival.
Gill respiration is an adaptation to aquatic environments, optimizing oxygen absorption to sustain life processes in organisms living in water.
