[Campbell Biology P.1042] In marine bony fishes, how do specialized chloride cells facilitate... | Practice Question

In marine bony fishes, how do specialized chloride cells facilitate the secretion of salt from the blood into the surrounding salt water?

  • A: By actively transporting Na+ into the blood and Cl- into the salt water.
  • B: By using ion gradients to drive NaCl into the blood, preventing dehydration.
  • C: By functioning together through pumps, cotransporters, and channels to drive salt from the blood across the gill epithelium.
  • D: By passively diffusing salt from areas of high concentration in the blood to low concentration in the salt water.

Explanation

The text states: 'Within gills, the pumps, cotransporters, and channels of specialized chloride cells function together to drive salt from the blood across the gill epithelium and into the surrounding salt water.' This describes an active process leveraging ion gradients.