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  • Agnatha Circulation: Understanding the Unique Blood System of Lampreys & Hagfish
    Agnatha, which includes lampreys and hagfish, have a single-circuit circulatory system. This means that blood passes through the heart only once per complete circuit around the body.

    Here's a breakdown:

    * Heart: Agnathans have a two-chambered heart:

    * Sinus venosus: Receives deoxygenated blood from the body.

    * Atrium: Receives blood from the sinus venosus and pumps it to the ventricle.

    * Ventricle: Pumps deoxygenated blood to the gills.

    * Gills: Blood picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide in the gills.

    * Body: Oxygenated blood circulates throughout the body and then returns to the heart, completing the circuit.

    Key points:

    * No separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood: Unlike more advanced vertebrates, Agnathans don't have a separate pulmonary circulation for oxygenating blood in the lungs.

    * Lower pressure system: The single-circuit system operates at a lower pressure than the double-circuit system found in other vertebrates. This is reflected in the thinner-walled blood vessels and slower blood flow.

    Let me know if you'd like more details on the circulatory system of any specific Agnathan species!

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