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GCSE BIOLOGY > 2. Organisation > Flashcards

2. Organisation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a cell ?

A

The basic building block of a living organism

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2
Q

What is a tissue ?

A

A group of cells with a similar structure and function working together. For example, muscular tissue contracts to bring about movement.

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3
Q

What is an organ ?

A

A collection of tissues working together to perform a specific function. For example, the stomach contains glandular, muscular and epithelial tissues.

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4
Q

What is an organ system ?

A

A group of organs working together to perform specific functions. For example, the digestive system contains organs such as the stomach, the small intestine and the large intestine.

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5
Q

What is the main function of the digestive system ?

A

To digest food and absorb the nutrients obtained from digestion.

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6
Q

What is the role of the pancreas and the salivary gland in the digestive system ?

A

The pancreas and the salivary gland are glands which produce digestive juices containing enzymes.

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7
Q

What is the role of the stomach in the digestive system ?

A

Produces hydrochloric acid - which kills any bacteria present and provides the optimum acidic pH for the protease enzyme to function.

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8
Q

What is the role of the small intestine in the digestive system ?

A

The small intestine is the site where soluble food molecules are absorbed into the bloodstream.

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9
Q

What is the role of the liver in the digestive system ?

A

Produces bile (stored in the gallbladder) which emulsifies lipids and allows the lipase enzyme to work more efficiently.

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10
Q

What is the role of the large intestine in the digestive ststem ?

A

Absorbs water from undigested food , producing faeces

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11
Q

What is the role of enzymes in the digestive system?

A

Enzymes act as biological catalysts which speed up the rate of biological reactions (the breakdown of food) without being used up.

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12
Q

How does the shape of an enzyme affect its function?

A

Enzymes have a specific active site which is complementary to their substrate.

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13
Q

What is metabolism ?

A

The sum of all the reactions in a cell or an organism

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14
Q

What types of metabolic reactions do enzymes catalyse?

A

• Building larger molecules from smaller molecules eg. glucose to starch.
• Changing one molecule to another eg. glucose to fructose.
• Breaking down larger molecules into smaller molecules eg. carbohydrates to glucose.

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15
Q

What is the lock and key hypothesis of enzyme function ?

A

The shape of the enzyme active site and the substrate are complementary, so can bind together to form an enzyme-substrate complex.

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16
Q

How does temperature affect enzyme action ?

A

Up to a certain point, increasing temperature increases enzyme action, as molecules have a higher kinetic energy. Above a certain temperature, the shape of the active site is altered and the enzyme becomes denatured, so it can no longer catalyse the reaction. The optimum temperature is around 37°.

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17
Q

How does pH affect enzyme function ?

A

The optimum pH for most enzymes is 7 (apart from proteases in the stomach). If the pH is too extreme, the shape of the active site may be altered and the enzyme may no longer work.

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18
Q

Where are carbohyrases , proteases and lipases produced in the body

A

• Carbohydrases: amylase - salivary gland and pancreas; maltase - small intestine.
• Proteases: pepsin - stomach; others - pancreas and small intestine.
• Lipases: pancreas and small intestine.

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19
Q

What is the role of carbohydrases in the digestive system ?

A

Carbohydrases break down carbohydrates into simple sugars. Amylase is a carbohydrate which breaks down starch

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20
Q

What is the role of proteases in the digestive system ?

A

Proteases break down proteins into amino acids

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21
Q

What is the role of lipases in the digestive system ?

A

Lipases break down lipids (fats) to glycerol and fatty acids.

22
Q

How are the products of digestion used ?

A

They are used to build bigger molecules such as carbohydrates and proteins . Glucose is used as a substrate in respiration

23
Q

Where is bile made and stored in the body ?

A

Bile is made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder

24
Q

What is the role of bile in the digestive system ?

A

• Bile is an alkaline substance which neutralises the hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach.
• Bile emulsifies lipids to form droplets - this increases the surface area for the lipase enzyme to work on.

25
Q

What is the heart ?

A

An organ that pumps blood around the body

26
Q

What is the purpose of the circulatory system ?

A

Carries oxygen and other useful substances to bodily tissues , and removes waste substances

27
Q

How does the double circulatory system work ?

A

• One pathway carries blood from the heart to the lungs - where the gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.
• One pathway carries blood from the heart to the tissues.

28
Q

Where does blood pumped by the right ventricle go ?

A

The lungs

29
Q

Where does blood pumped by the left ventricle go ?

A

Body tissues

30
Q

Why is the double circulatory system important ?

A

It makes the circulatory system more efficient - for example, oxygenated blood can be pumped around the body at a higher pressure by the left ventricle.

31
Q

How many chambers does the heart have and what are they called ?

A

4 - right atrium , right ventricle , left atrium , left ventricle

32
Q

Why is the wall of the left ventricle thicker ?

A

The left ventricle has to pump blood at a higher pressure around the whole body

33
Q

What are the four main blood vessels associated with the heart?

A

• Aorta (left) - carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body.
• Pulmonary vein (left) - carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
• Vena cava (right) - carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart.
• Pulmonary artery (right) - carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

34
Q

What is the purpose of valves in the heart?

A

Prevent the backflow of blood

35
Q

What is the purpose of coronary arteries?

A

Coronary arteries supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood.

36
Q

Describe the process of blood flow through the heart

A

• Blood enters the right atrium via the vena cava, and the left atrium via the pulmonary vein.
• The atria contract, forcing blood into the ventricles and causing valves to shut.
• After the ventricles contract, blood in the right ventricle enters the pulmonary artery (to the lungs) and blood in the left ventricle enters the aorta (to the body).

37
Q

What is the approximate value of the natural resting heart rate ?

A

70 bpm

38
Q

How is the heart rate controlled ?

A

Heart rate is controlled by a group of cells in the right atrium which act as a pacemaker.
They release waves of electrical activity which cause the heart muscle to contract.

39
Q

How can an abnormal heart rhythm be treated?

A

Irregular heart rhythms can be treated using an artificial pacemaker, which sends out electrical signals to correct the heart’s rhythm.

40
Q

What are the three type of blood vessels in the body

A
  • arteries
  • veins
  • capillaries
41
Q

How are arteries adapted for their function ?

A

• Function: carry blood away from the heart.
• Thick muscle layer - adds strength to resist high pressure.
• Thick elastic layer - allows arteries to stretch and recoil - in order to withstand high pressure.

42
Q

How are veins adapted for their function ?

A

• Function: carry blood towards the heart
• Wide lumen - enables low pressure
• Valves - prevent backflow of blood

43
Q

How are capillaries adapted for their function ?

A

• Function: enable transfer of substances between the blood and tissues.
• Walls are one cell thick - short diffusion path.
• Permeable walls - substances can diffuse across.
• Narrow lumen - blood moves slowly - more time for diffusion.

44
Q

How would you calculate the rate of blood flow ?

A

Volume of blood / number of minutes

45
Q

Where are the lungs found in the body?

A

The lungs are located in the thorax (within the chest). They are protected by the ribcage and separated from the rest of the abdomen by the diaphragm.

46
Q

What tissues and organs make up the gas exchange system ?

A

• Trachea
• Intercostal muscles
• Bronchi
• Bronchioles
• Alveoli
• Diaphragm

47
Q

Explain how the lungs are ventilated by the action of intercostal muscles

A

• Intercostal muscles contract
• Ribcage moves upwards and outwards
• Diaphragm flattens and volume of the chest increases
• Increased volume results in decreased pressure
• Air is drawn into lungs down pressure gradient
The inverse occurs when air moves out of the lungs.

48
Q

Describe how gas exchange occurs at the alveoli

A

• Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli into the capillary bloodstream down its concentration gradient.
• Carbon dioxide diffuses from the capillary into the alveoli down its concentration gradient.

49
Q

Describe how alevoli are adapted for gas exchange

A

• Small and arranged in clusters - larger surface area.
• Rich blood supply - maintains concentration gradient.
• Thin alveolar wall - short diffusion pathway.

50
Q

How would you calculate the breathing rate

A

Number of breaths / number of minutes

GCSE BIOLOGY (15 decks)

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