Chapter 8- Transport in man Flashcards
(31 cards)
What are the various components a of blood?
- Plasma (55%) 2. White blood cells and platelets (45%, 1% of blood) 3. Red blood cells (45%; 99% of blood)
What does the plasma transport?
- Proteins- fibrinogen, prothrombin, antibodies 2. Nutrients- proteins, fats, glucose 3. Minerals- chlorides, sulfates (from calcium and sodium) 4. Waste products- urea, iris acid, creatinine 5. Hormones- HGH, sex hormones
Describe the features of a red blood cell.
- No nucleus (limits lifespan) 2. Contains haemoglobin (transports oxygen) 3. Elastic (squeeze in tiny blood capillaries) 4. Biconcave shape (surface area to volume ratio)
What is the structure and function of a lymphocyte?
- Large and rounded nucleus. 2. Small amount of non-granular cytoplasm. 3. Function- produces antibodies against bacteria.
How do antibodies help fight against bacteria?
- They bind to specific bacteria and cause their surface membranes to rupture. (Different antibodies > different pathogens) 2. Bacteria cells clump together in the presence of antibodies. 3. Antibodies neutralize the toxins produced by the bacteria.
What is the function and structure of a phagocyte?
- Small, lobed nucleus. 2. Contains granular cytoplasm, which contains enzymes. 3. Function- ingest (destroy) and engulf foreign particles.
What is the function and structure of a platelet?
- Fragments of cytoplasm which are membrane bound. 2. Not a true cell; does not contain most organelles. 3. Function- releases thrombokinase and helps in blood clotting.
What are the two functions of blood?
- It’s a transport medium. 2. It helps to protect the body. - Blood clotting - Phagocytosis - Production of antibodies
What does blood transport?
- Digested food substances (glucose, proteins, fats) 2. Waste materials (CO2, urea) 3. Hormones (HGH, sex hormones) 4. Heat 5. Oxygen (RBCS only)
What is the transport process of blood around the body?
- Blood passes through lungs; oxygen diffuses from air sacs in the lungs into the RBCS in the blood. 2. Haemoglobin binds to oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin. 3. Blood transports oxygen to all parts of the body. 4. At tissue cells, oxyhaemoglobin releases oxygen.
What is acclimatization?
It is the increase in red blood cells in blood levels for people living at high altitudes. Higher altitudes have higher pressure, thus the amount of oxygen in the air is significantly lesser. The increased number of RBCS increase the amount of haemoglobin, and thus more oxygen can be transported to all parts of the body per unit time.
How does blood clotting occur?
Blood clots help seal wounds and prevent entry of bacteria / prevent further loss of blood. During blood clotting, platelets release an enzyme known as thrombokinase. It converts prothrombin in blood to thrombin (active form) with the addition of calcium ions. Thrombin then converts the soluble fibronogen in blood to insoluble fibrin threads, which entangle blood cells to form a clot.
What do the antibodies do during an organ transplant?
- The recipient may produce antibodies to destroy the organ transplant (as it is a foreign object). 2. Tissue matching or immunosuppressive drugs can help to lower the chances of this happening. 3. Donations from family or siblings also proves to be more effective.
Why do multicellular organisms require a transport system, as opposed to unicellular organisms?
- In unicellular organisms, the exchange of materials occurs easily by diffusion. (Large surface area to volume ratio). 2. Multicellular organisms have a reduced surface area to volume ratio, which means that waste and nutrients cannot enter quickly. 3. Cells are also located deeper inside the body, meaning diffusion only works for cells on the surface.
How are blood groups classified?
- People have natural antibodies in their plasma, which recognizes and binds to specific antigens on the red blood cells. 2. The red blood cells have proteins called antigens on their surfaces. 3. Blood group types are formed in line with the names of the antigen (e.g blood group A has A antigens and b antibodies).
What is agglutination?
Agglutination occurs when the recipient’s antibodies binds to the donor’s antigens. It is defined as the clumping of blood cells. It may cause clogging of blood vessels and sometimes death because blood isn’t able to flow.
What is the structure and function of the arteries?
Function: 1. Transport oxygenated blood from the heart to other organs. Structure: 1. Thick, muscular walls that pushes blood in spurts. 2. Support for blood coming in with high pressure. 3. Contraction and dilation of arteries at times- push blood.
What is the function and structure of the veins?
Structure: 1. Transports deoxygenate blood back to the heart. Function: 1. Thinner walls, lesser elastic tissue- slow pressure. 2. Semi lunar valves, which prevent the backflow of blood due to gravity.
What is the function and structure of the capillaries?
Structure: 1. Microscopic blood vessels found between cells of all tissues. Function: 1. Has only the endothelium- single layer of flattened cells- this allows easier diffusion of substances. 2. Capillary network- increase total surface area to volume ratio.
Why do mammals need double circulation?
- Full oxygenation - Blood enters pulmonary circulation at low pressures, ensuring sufficient time for the blood to be fully oxygenated. 2. Quick distribution - Blood pumped at high pressures into the systematic circulation system- oxygenated blood is quickly distributed to all tissues.
Describe the movement of blood through the heart.
- Deoxygenated blood returns to the heart via vena cava. 2. Right atrium contracts, then right ventricle contracts. 3. Blood leaves via pulmonary arch and enters lungs. 4. Oxygenated blood flows from lungs to atrium via pulmonary vein. 5. Left atrium contracts, left ventricle contracts, blood moves to the aortic arch and is distributed throughout the body.
Describe the ventricular systole.
- Blood from vena cava and pulmonary vein fill the atriums. 2. Both atria contract, blood moves to ventricles. 3. Closure of bicuspid and tricuspid valves- prevent backflow of blood into the atrium. 4. A lub sound is produced by the closure.
Describe the ventricular diastole.
- When pressure in the ventricles are higher than in the aorta, the semi-lunar valves in the aortic and pulmonary arches open. 2. When blood leaves, the ventricles and atria relax. 3. After ventricles relax, semi-lunar valves close to prevent backflow of blood into the ventricles. Dub sound is produced. 4. Dec. in pressure allows bi and tricuspid valves to open.
Name all the blood vessels in the diagram.

1-6: Pulmonary vein, aorta, dorsal artery, hepatic artery, artery to gut, renal artery.
7-12: Pulmonary artery, anterior vena cava, posterior vena cava, hepatic vein, hepatic portal vein, renal vein.
