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Human Systems Flashcards

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1
Q

How does the circulatory system remove cellular waste?

A

The circulatory system transports waste products

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2
Q

How does the digestive system provide the body with its nutrients and energy

A

The digestive system breaks down food into smaller molecules, then absorbs them into the bloodstream.

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3
Q

Unicellular

A

Unicellular is one cell, can perform all the functions of life. Small, lacks tissues, organs, and organ systems. Growth occurs by an increase in the size of the cell

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4
Q

Multicellular

A

Multiple cells, specialised cells perform different functions. mostly large, with tissues, organs, and organ systems. growth occurs by increase in the number of cells by cell division

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5
Q

Nervous System

A

Complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body. Takes action fast, sends electrical impulses. Examples include blinking, coughing, sneezing.

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6
Q

Endocrine System

A

Series of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream.
Takes action slowly, sends chemical messages (hormones). Examples are growth, controlling blood sugar.

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7
Q

How are the nervous and endocrine systems similar?

A

They both act as communication networks within the body, and play vital roles in maintaining homeostasis.

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8
Q

Cell Specialisation

A

Cells with unique structures for specific functions

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9
Q

Different types of nerve cells/neurons

A
  1. Motor Neuron
  2. Sensory Neuron
  3. Interneuron
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10
Q

Structure and function of sensory neuron

A

Long, has cell body branching off the middle of the axon. Transmits messages from sense organs to CNS

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11
Q

Structure and function of motor neuron

A

Long, has large cell body at one end with long dendrites branching off it. Carries messages from the CNS to effectors

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12
Q

Structure and function of interneuron

A

Found in the CNS, short and has small cell body at one end with dendrites branching off it. Connects sensory and motor neurons. Helps process information, coordinate activity of different parts of nervous system

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13
Q

What are nerve cells/neurons?

A

Sends messages all over the body, allows you to do everything. Transmits electrical messages.

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14
Q

Purpose of nerve cells/neurons

A

Thing and long so that they can carry messages over body quickly. Branched connections at each end to allow electrical signals to pass to other cells. They have a myelin sheath which surrounds them, increases speed of signal travel.

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15
Q

Homeostasis

A

Maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment

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16
Q

What are the processes included in homeostasis?

A
  1. Detecting a change
  2. Response that returns the body back to normal (negative feedback loop)
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17
Q

What are receptors?

A

They detect stimuli (change that can be detected) outside and inside the body.

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18
Q

What are receptors attached to?

A

Sensory Cells

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19
Q

Examples of receptors

A

Different cells respond to stimuli - eg. thermoreceptors (skin) for temperature, cochlear cells (inner ear) for sound, chemoreceptors (tongue and nose) for chemicals

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20
Q

What are the types of body response to stimuli?

A
  1. Stimulus response eg. negative feedback
  2. Reflex action
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21
Q

Stimulus-response (reflexes)

A

Receptors change the stimulus into an elecrical impulse. A sensory neuron takes impulse to the CNS, goes via a motor neuron to an effector. The effector is a muscle of gland, leading to a response (change in organism after stimulus)

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22
Q

Reflex Action

A

Reflexes are fast and designed to keep our bodies safe. They occur without conscious thought (do not involve brain). eg. blinking, sneezing

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23
Q

Explain the pupillary reflex

A

Rapid constriction of the pupil in response to light. Helps regulate the amount of light entering the eye, protecting the retina and optimising vision in different light levels.

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24
Q

What are hormones produced by?

A

The endocrine glands, released directly into bloodstream.

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25
What is the hypothalamus?
Small region of the brain that functions as the control centre of the body. Main function is to keep the body in homeostasis
26
Hormones
Produced in small amounts and travel through the blood. They do not affect all the cells. Hormones only act on target cells.
27
Pituitary Gland
"Master gland" of body. Stimulates other endocrine glands to release their own hormones
28
What is metabolism?
The chemical reactions taking place inside the body. Eg. digestion, growth and repair, respiration.
29
What is the by-product of metabolism?
The heat it produces. It also maintains body temperature
30
Endotherm
When you can maintain a constant body temperature
31
Hormonal control of temperature (fall)
Hypothalamus detects fall in body temperature, produces hormone causing pituitary gland to secrete more TSH, release more thyroxine.
32
What does thyroxine do?
Travels in the blood to all cells, causes rate of metabolism in the cells to increase. Increased metabolism generates more heat and warms the body
33
Why does it take a while for temperature to return to normal?
The endocrine system changes the body temperature over time, and does not have immediate control over body temp.
34
Nervous control of temperature
1. Shivering 2. Vasodilation and Sweating
35
Explain shivering
When hypothalamus detects drop in temperature. Sends nerve impulses to muscle groups around vital organs. Small shaking movements begin, extend to other muscles. Begin to shiver.
36
Why is shivering helpful?
Increases the activity of muscle cells, producing heat and raising body temperature. Body's way of creating warmth by using energy
37
Explain vasodilation
Hypothalamus detects rise in temperature, nerve messages sent to sweat glands and blood vessels. Blood vessels close to skin dilate so more blood can reach the skin surface. Extra blood makes skin more red.
38
Explain sweating
The message from the hypothalamus causes sweat glands to produce more sweat. Heat from your body causes the sweat (mostly water) to evaporate. Heat is lost in this way.
39
Parts of the eye
1. Cornea 2. Pupil 3. Optic Nerve 4. Retina 5. Iris 6. Lens
40
Function of the eye
Messages are sent from photoreceptors via the optic nerve to the brain for interpretation. This is called vision
41
Cornea
Transparent outermost layer at front of the eye. Protects eye. Also bends and refracts light, helping to focus images on the retina
42
Negative Feedback Loops
Counteracts shift away from stable state, returns to homeostasis. 1. Change is detected 2. Message sent to effector gland/organ 3. Response initiated to return body to normal state
43
Positive Feedback Loops
Adds to shift away from stable state. 1. Change is detected 2. Message sent to effector gland/organ 3. Response initiated to increase change in body
44
Lens
Transparent, biconvex structure located behind the iris and pupil. Focuses light onto the retina, allowing us to see. Can also focus on objects close up and far away.
45
Iris
A muscle that controls how much light enters the eyes.
46
Pupil
Dark circle in centre of the iris. It is a hole that lets light into the inner eye through lens.
47
Retina
Layers of light-sensitive cells at the back of the eye. Detects images focused by the cornea and lens.
48
Where is the iris located?
Suspended between the cornea and the lens. Can come in many different colours
49
What do the two types of photoreceptors in the retina do?
Rods and cones. Cone cells detect colour of light (see in the day) Rod cells are more sensitive, can see in the dark. But only in black and white
50
Optic Nerve function
Bundle of nerve fibers that carry information from the retina to the brain
51
Optic nerve structure
Paired, cylindrical structure that transmits visual information from the eye to the brain.
52
How is sound transmitted in the ear?
It is transmitted by vibrations to the ear
53
Function of the ear
Hearing and balance
54
Demonstrate that sound is transmitted by vibrations to the ear
Sound is transmitted to the ear through vibrations. Vibrating objects create sound waves, which are pressure waves in the air. When these waves reach the ear, they cause the eardrum to vibrate, and this vibration is then transmitted through the middle ear by the ossicles, ultimately reaching the inner ear
55
Pinna structure and function
Visible, fleshy part of the outer ear. Its structure (cartilage and skin) helps funnel sound waves into the ear canal. It also helps to locate the direction in which sound is coming.
56
Eardrum structure
A thin, cone-shaped membrane separating the outer and middle ear. Thin flap of skin stretches tight across the inside of the ear, like skin on a drum
57
Eardum function
Transmits sound waves from outer ear to inner ear, as it vibrates in response to sound, transferring vibrations to the tiny bones of middle ear.
58
What does the eardrum convert sound waves into?
Mechanical vibrations
59
Order in which sound travels
Source -> Outer ear due to pinna -> eardrum -> ossicles -> cochlea (electrical signal) -> auditory nerve -> brain
60
What are the ossicles?
Hammer, anvil, stirrup
61
Ossicles structure
Interconnected bones in middle ear. Chain-like, transmitting sound vibrations from eardrum to inner ear. Hammer is largest and most lateral, anvil is in middle, stirrup is smallest, connecting to middle ear.
62
Ossicles function
Amplifies and transmits sound vibrations from eardrum to inner ear. Acts as a bridge/lever, conveying sound waves to cochlea through the oval window
63
Eustachian Tube
1. Drains fluid from middle ear 2. Equalises air pressure in your middle ear 3. Protects middle ear
64
Cochlea structure
Fluid filled, spiral/snail-shaped cavity in the inner ears. Millions of tiny hairs line the surface of the cochlea.
65
Cochlea function
Converts sound waves into electrical signals the brain can interpret as sound. Vibrations cause fluid inside to move, and are detected by the hairs. Receptors are attached to these hairs, and convert movement into electrical impulses
66
Auditory nerve/cochlear nerve structure
Originates in cochlea, travels through internal auditory meatus, a channel in the temporal bone, to reach the brainstem
67
Auditory nerve/cochlear nerve function
Electrical impulses travel along the nerve from the cochlea to the brian, which interprets them as sound
68
Semicircular Canals structure
Three fluid-filled, ring-shaped structures within inner ear. Oriented at roughly 90 degrees to each other.
69
Semicircular Canals function
If you suddenly lean in one direction, fluid in one of the canals move against tiny sensory hairs in the canal lining. Nerve impulses sent to brain, which sends messages to muscles to help you balance
70
Define gland
A gland is an organ or specialised group of cells that procude and release specific substances, such as hormones
71
Endocrine vs Exocrine
Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into bloodstream (eg. thyroid) Exocrine glands secrete substances through ducts onto the body's surface or into organs (eg. sweat)
72
List these organs in the order food will pass through them in the digestive tract: small intestine, mouth, stomach, large intestine, oesophagus
mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine
73
What is diffusion?
When particles move from areas with higher volume to area of lower volume
74
Diffusion in digestive system
Enables absorption of digested nutrients from the small intestine into the bloodstream.
75
Diffusion in circulatory system
Allows for exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and tissues, also delivery of nutrients to cells and removal of waste products
76
Endocrine glands
Hypothalamus Pituitary Gland Pineal Gland Thyroid Gland Parathyroid Glands Thymus Pancreas Adrenal Glands Ovaries Testes
77
Examples of exocrine glands
Salivary glands Sweat glands Digestive glands
78
Central Nervous System
Body's main command centre. Consists of brain and spinal cord
79
Peripheral Nervous System
Carries out commands from brain to different parts of the body
80
How does the digestive system interact with the circulatory system
The digestive system breaks food down into nutrients, the circulatory system transports the nutrients and energy around the body
81
How does the circulatory system interact with the excretory system?
The circulatory system transports blood into the kidneys, while the excretory system removes excess substances such as water and salts
82
How does the respiratory system interact with the circulatory system?
The respiratory system takes in oxygen and takes oxygen out, and the circulatory system transports the oxygen around so that it can be used for cellular respiration
83
How does the excretory system interact with the digestive system?
The digestive system breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates undigested waste. The excretory system removes this waste from the body.
84
Examples of multicellular organisms
Earthworms, fish, frogs
85
Examples of unicellular organisms
Amoeba, paramecium
86
Why do hormones only affect certain receptors?
Hormones have different chemical structures, and their shapes vary. A hormone is only active in cells that have receptors that fit the shape of the hormone

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