3:1:2 Transport in Animals Flashcards
(101 cards)
Why do animals need to exchange substances
They need to exchange substances with their external environment (take oxygen and nutrients in, and waste products generated need to be released) and this happens at the exchange site of the organism
Why do large organisms need transport systems
Substances are said to not have entered or left an organism until it crosses the cell surface membrane, but they need transport systems due to the large transport distances, small SA:V, and high levels of activity
Why do large organisms have large transport distances
- Large and complex organisms tend to have exchange systems that are further away from each other
- This makes simple diffusion too slow to meet metabolic requirements, so a system is needed
Why do large organisms have small SA:V
- As the size of the organism increases, the volume increases
- This also means the surface area decreases, and there is less surface area for the absorption of substances
- Additionally the large volume means a larger diffusion distance
Why do large organisms have increased metabolic activity
- They are more physically active and also contain more cells than smaller organisms
- A larger number of cells means a higher level of metabolic activity
- The demand for substances like O2 and nutrients is higher
What are mass transport systems and why are they important
- Mass flow (bulk movement of materials moved by force) transport systems enable animals to transport substances to exchange sites which are the areas where diffusion can occur (e.g. circulatory system)
- Bring substances from one exchange site to the other quickly
- Maintain diffusion gradients at exchange sites
- Ensure effective cell activity by upholding the metabolic rate
Why do organisms need circulatory systems
- Cells of organisms need a constant supply of metabolic reactants (e.g. oxygen and glucose)
- Large organisms gain these from specialised exchange surfaces
- These surfaces have long diffusion distances, so are instead attached to mass transport systems
What are single circulatory systems
A circulatory system where the blood passes through the heart once during a complete circuit of the body (e.g. fish)
What is a double circulatory system
A circulatory system where the blood passes through the heart twice during a complete circuit of the body (e.g. mammals)
How does a single circulatory system work
- Deoxygenated blood is pumped to the gills from the heart (one article, one ventricle)
- The gills are the exchange site where O2 and CO2 are exchanged
- The oxygenated blood flows from the gills to the rest of the body to exchange substances
- The blood returns to the heart
How does a double circulatory system work
- As the blood passes through the heart twice, there is a right (deoxygenated) and left (oxygenated) side
- Blood in the right side of the heart leaves and travels to the lungs
- The blood that has gained oxygen from the lungs returns to the left side of the heart to be pumped around the rest of the body
- When the blood has passed through the body it returns to the right side of the heart
- When blood passes through an organ it goes straight back to the heart, apart from blood flow from the gut to the liver through the hepatic vein (to give the waste products)
What are the advantages of a double circulatory system
- When blood enters the capillary network the pressure and speed decreases
- Blood only has to pass through one capillary system before returning to the heart (unlike the two in single circulatory systems)
- Maintains a higher blood pressure and average speed flow
- High pressure allows a maintenance of a steep concentration gradient which allows for efficient exchange
What is an open circulatory system
A circulatory system where blood isn’t contained within blood vessels but it is pumped directly into body cavities (e.g. molluscs)
What is a closed circulatory system
A circulatory system where blood is pumped around the body and is always contained within a network of blood vessels
What is the human pulmonary circulatory system
The right side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs for gas exchange
What is the systemic circulatory system
Oxygenated blood from the lungs returns to the left side of the heart so it can be pumped efficiently (high pressure) around the body
Describe the circulatory system in insects and label a diagram
- Oxygen is delivered into the Haemolymph through trachea (system of tubes connecting to outside)
- Tubular heart in abdomen pumps haemolymph (blood) into the dorsal vessel (main blood vessel)
- Haemolymph delivered to the haemocoel (body cavity)
- Haemolymph surrounds organs and delivers oxygen directly into the tissue
- Haemolymph renters the heart via Ostia (one way valves
What are arteries
Blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart at high pressure to tissues
What are arterioles
Narrow blood vessels that branch from arteries, which transport blood to capillaries
What are veins
Blood vessels which transport blood to the heart at low presssure
What are venules
Narrow blood vessels that transport blood from the capillaries to the veins
What is the structure of arteries
- Narrow lumen and pulse to maintain high blood pressure
- Tunica intima: endothelium lumen lining, connective tissue, elastic fibres
- Tunica media: smooth muscle cells, thick elastic tissue layer
- Tunica adventitia: collagen
Why do endothelium cells line blood vessel lumens
Once cell thick for short diffusion distance, and it’s smooth to reduce friction of blood flow
Why do arteries/arterioles have a muscle cell layer
To allow the vessel to contract the lumen to regulate blood flow, as well as to withstand high pressure