Respirometer

Respirometer

A respirometer is a device used to measure the rate of respiration of a living organism by measuring its rate of exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. They allow investigation into how factors such as age or the effect of light affect the rate of respiration.

A simple respirometer designed to measure oxygen uptake or CO2 release consists of a sealed container with the living specimen together with a substance to absorb the carbon dioxide given off during respiration, such as soda lime pellets or cotton wads soaked with potassium hydroxide. The oxygen uptake is detected by displacement of manometric fluid in a thin glass U-tube connected to the container. When the organism takes in oxygen it gives off an equal volume of carbon dioxide. As this is absorbed by the soda lime, air is sucked in from the U-tube to keep the pressure constant, displacing the liquid. The rate of change gives a direct and reasonably accurate reading for the organism's rate of respiration.

As changes in temperature or pressure can also affect the displacement of the manometric fluid, a second respirometer identical to the first except with a dead specimen (or something with the same mass as the specimen in place of the organism) is sometimes set up. Subtracting the displacement of the second respirometer from the first allows for control of these factors.

ee also

* Respiratory rate

External links

* [http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/lab5/features.html LabBench]
* [http://www.challenge-sys.com Challenge Technology]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • respirometer — noun Date: circa 1883 an instrument for studying the character and extent of respiration • respirometric adjective • respirometry noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • respirometer — /res peuh rom i teuhr/, n. 1. an instrument for measuring the extent of respiratory movement. 2. an instrument for measuring oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide production in an isolated tissue. [1885 90; RESPIRE + O + METER] * * * …   Universalium

  • respirometer — noun A device used to measure the rate of respiration of plants See Also: respirometric, respirometry …   Wiktionary

  • respirometer — 1. An instrument for measuring the extent of the respiratory movements. 2. An instrument for measuring oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide production, usually of an isolated tissue. [L. respiro, to breathe, + G. metron, measure] Dräger r. an… …   Medical dictionary

  • respirometer — instrument for measuring and studying respiration Scientific Instruments …   Phrontistery dictionary

  • respirometer — n. instrument which measures the volume of respiration; device which measures oxygen consumption in bodily tissues …   English contemporary dictionary

  • respirometer — noun 1》 Biology a device for measuring the rate of respiration. 2》 Medicine an instrument for measuring the air capacity of the lungs …   English new terms dictionary

  • respirometer — res·pi·rom·e·ter …   English syllables

  • respirometer — res•pi•rom•e•ter [[t]ˌrɛs pəˈrɒm ɪ tər[/t]] n. med an instrument for measuring oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide production • Etymology: 1885–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • respirometer — ˌrespəˈräməd.ə(r) noun Etymology: Latin respirare to breathe + English o + meter 1. : an instrument for studying the character and extent of respiration 2. : a diver s headdress having a receptacle for compressed oxygen for replenishing the… …   Useful english dictionary

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