Transporting Materials Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is a transport system?
A system for transporting substances around a multicellular organism
What is the function of valves in the heart?
To prevent the backflow of blood
Which side of the heart does the blood enter first?
The right
What does the right side/pump of the heart do?
Force deoxyginated blood to the lungs where it picks up oxygen and loses carbon dioxide
What does the left pump/side of the heart do?
Pump the blood around the rest of the body once it has been oxygenated in the lungs
Describe the structure of the heart and what each part does
- Vena cava brings deoxygenated blood to the heart
- Atria recieve blood from vena cava on right and pulmonary vein on left
- Atria contract to move blood into lower chambers - ventricles
- Ventricles then contract to force blood into pulmonary artery on right side and aorta on the left.
- Valves prevent backflow
- The heart muscle is supplied with oxygenated bllod via the coronary arteries
Draw and label a diagram of the heart
- Vena cava
- Right atrium
- Right ventricle
- Pulmonary artery
- Pulmonary vein
- Left atrium
- Left ventricle
- Aorta

What are the three main vessels that carry blood around the body?
Veins, arteries, and capillaries
Describe arteries
- Thick walls
- Small lumen (hole)
- Thick layers of muscle and elastic fibre
- Carry blood away from the heart
Describe veins
- Large lumen
- Relatively thin walls
- Often have valves to prevent backflow
Describe capillaries
- Tiny vessel with a narrow lumen
- Walls a single cell thick
- Carry blood through organs and allow exchange of substances with all the living cells in the body
What happens if the blood vessels are blocked or too narrow?
The blood will not flow efficiently
Then organs will be deprived of nutrients and oxygen
What are stents and what do they do?
Metal mesh placed in an artery and used to open it up through the inflation of a tiny balloon
When are stents particularly beneficial?
When coronary arteries become narrowed due to fatty deposits, cutting off the blood supply to the heart muscle
What might leaky valves cause and how can this be fixed?
Can cause blood to flow in the wrong direction
Artificial or animal valves can be inserted in the heart to replace damaged valves
What is blood?
A tissue

What is plasma?
The clear, yellow part of the blood which carries dissolves substances and blood cells around the body
What does blood plasma transport?
- Carbon dioxide from the organs to the lungs
- Soluble products of digestion from the small intestine to other organs
- Urea from the liver to the kindeys where urine is made
Describe red blood cells
- Contain the red pigment haemoglobin
- Bioconcave discs
- Do not have a nucleus
- Haemoglobin combines with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin in the lungs
- Carry the oxygen to all organs where oxyhaemoglobin splits into haemoglobin and oxygen
Describe white blood cells
- Have a nucleus
- Form part of the body’s defence system against microorganisms
Describe platelets
- Small fragments of cells
- Do not have a nucleus
- Help blood clot at site of a wound
What does the plasma contain?
White blood cells
Red blood cells
Platelets
What type of reaction is the reaction between oxygen and haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin?
A reversible reaction
Why is plasma given to patients?
In an emergency to increase blood volume when a lot of blood has been lost