2- Organisation Flashcards
What does the right side of the heart do?
The right side pumps blood to the lungs under lower pressure to collect oxygen and remove carbon dioxide
What does the left side of the heart do?
The left side pumps blood to the body under high pressure to give body cells oxygen and take away carbon dioxide
Why is the heart called a double circulatory system?
Because there are two sides pumping blood to two different places
How efficient is the heart and why?
It is very efficient as body cells receive fully oxygenated blood quickly (higher blood flow rate)
What parts of the heart are on the right side?
- pulmonary artery
- vena cava
- right atrium
- heart valve
- right ventricle
What parts of the heart are on the left side?
- aorta
- pulmonary vein
- left atrium
- heart valve
- left ventricle
What is the purpose of the semi-lunar valves?
- The semi-lunar valves prevent blood flowing back into the ventricles between beats for pulmonary artery and aorta
How is the heart broadly structured and how does blood move through the heart?
- Separated into upper chambers called atria and lower chambers called ventricles
- The atria pump blood to ventricles. The ventricles pump blood to either the lungs (right ventricle) or the body (left ventricle)
Why is the heart muscle of the left ventricle thicker than the right?
- heart muscle of left ventricle is thicker than right. This allows the heart to contract more strongly, pumping blood at higher pressure
What is the purpose of the atrioventricular valves?
- The atrioventricular valves separate the atria and ventricles and prevent the backflow of blood
Definition of ventilation
The physical movement of air into and out of the lungs to allow gas exchange to occur
Definition of gas exchange
The diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between air in the alveoli and the blood in capillaries
Definition of respiration
The exothermic reaction continually occurring in living cells to release energy from molecules in food
Function of alveoli
The site of gas exchange
Function of diaphragm and intercostal muscles
muscles involved in bringing about process of ventilation
Definition of trachea, bronchi and bronchioles
The airways through which air moves to and from the alveoli during ventilation
Adaptations of alveoli
- Many alveoli to provide increased SA for diffusion
- Thin walls to provide a shorter diffusion distance
- Good blood supply to maintain steep conc. gradient
- Good ventilation to maintain steep conc. gradient (supply fresh O2 to blood)
What is oxygen debt caused by?
The movement of lactic acid (which causes fatigue) to the liver and the use of oxygen to convert lactic acid into glucose
What is plasma?
Plasma is the liquid part of the blood
What is the function of blood plasma?
The function of blood plasma is to transport the blood cells and other substances around the body.
Examples of chemicals that are transported in blood plasma
- waste carbon dioxide
- urea
- glucose
- amino acids
- hormones
- proteins
Function of red blood cells
Transports oxygen around body
Give 3 adaptations of red blood cells
- Biconcave discs- increased surface area to volume ratio for diffusion
- Packed with haemoglobin that binds to oxygen
- No nucleus, making more space for haemoglobin
Function of white blood cells
Form part of the body’s defence system against microorganisms
What are the two types of white blood cells?
- Phagocytes
- Lymphocytes
Functions of phagocytes
Engulfs pathogens
Functions of lymphocytes
Produces antibodies and anti-toxins
What are platelets?
Fragments of cells with cell membrane and cytoplasm but no nucleus
What is the role of platelets?
They help blood clot at the site of a wound as they are captured to form a jelly-like clot that stops you bleeding to death. The clot dries and hardens to form a scab, stopping bacteria entering the body through the wound
What is the equation for cardiac output?
Cardiac output = Heart rate x stroke volume
Function of veins
Carry blood away from organs towards heart
Is blood in veins oxygenated or deoxygenated?
Deoxygenated
Pressure in veins
Low pressure
Thickness of walls in veins
Thin walls
Diameter of lumen in veins
Large lumen
Do veins have valves?
Yes
Function of arteries
Carries blood away from the heart to the organs
Pressure of blood in arteries
high pressure
Is blood in arteries oxygenated or deoxygenated?
Oxygenated
Thickness of walls in arteries
Thick walls
Lumen diameter in arteries
Small lumen
Are there valves in arteries?
No
Function of capillaries
Links arteries and veins
Pressure of blood in capillaries
Very low pressure
Is blood in capillaries oxygenated or deoxygenated?
Oxygenated + deoxygenated
Thickness of walls in capillaries
Walls are one cell thick
Lumen diameter in capillaries
Very small lumen
Are there valves in capillaries?
No
What is the purpose of the coronary artery?
It supplies the cardiac muscle with oxygen and glucose which enables the heart to carry out respiration so that is can contract
What happens when someone has coronary heart disease?
Layers of fatty material build up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them. This reduces the flow of blood through the coronary arteries to the cardiac muscle, resulting in a lack of oxygen for the heart muscle. This means that the muscle cells carry out less aerobic respiration and energy release. The heart beats less effectively and it can lead to a condition called angina. If the coronary artery becomes completely blocked it will lead to a heart attack (or myocardial infarction)
What is the fatty material that builds up in the coronary arteries when someone has CHD?
The fatty material is made of a lipid called cholesterol
Where does cholesterol come from?
Cholesterol comes from the diet (in saturated fat)
Where is cholesterol synthesised?
In the liver
What are two treatments for coronary heart disease?
Statins and stents