3.1.2 - Transport in Animals Flashcards
Features of a good transport system
Fluid - to carry nutrients, O2 and waste products (blood)
Pump - create pressure to push fluid around body (heart)
Exchange surface - to allow substances to leave and enter the transport system (capillaries)
Tubes or vessels - to carry fluid by mass flow
Two circuits
Single circulatory system
Blood flows through the heart and travels around the whole body once before returning
Double circulatory system
Involves two separate circulations
Blood is pumped from the heart to lungs and then returns
Blood then flows through the heart and is pumped out to travel all around the body before returning
Pulmonary circuit
Pick up oxygen
Systemic circuit
Deliver oxygen
Why is a single circulatory system less effective
As blood flows through gill capillaries, overall pressure decreases
Speed of flow decreases
Blood flowing to body will have a lower pressure and flow slower
Rate at which O2 and nutrients are delivered to respiring tissue and waste removed is limited
Why is blood pumped to the lungs at a low pressure in a double circulatory system
As not to damage the capillaries in the lungs
Tissues in artery
Folded endothelium
Elastic fibres
Smooth muscle
Collagen fibres
Function of artery
Carry blood away from heart to tissue
Function of elastic fibres
Composed of elastin and provides flexibility
Recoil artery wall to maintain pressure and even out surges to give a continuous flow
Function of smooth muscle
Contracts and relaxes to change diameter of lum
Function of collagen fibres
Provide structural support
Function of arterioles
Link arteries and capillaries
Tissues in arteriole
More smooth muscle
Less elastin
Vasoconstriction
When the arteriole is constricted and blood cannot enter the capillary network so is diverted to core of body
Less heat is lost from the skin
Vasodilation
When the smooth muscle in the wall of an arteriole is relaxed, blood flows through into the capillary bed. More heat can be lost from the skin
Function of capillary
Enable exchange of material between the blood and tissue fluid
Structure of capillary
One layer of endothelium cells
Similar diameter to RBC
Leaky epithelium
No tissues
Structure of venule
Endothelium
Smooth muscle
Adaptation of capillaries
Larger surface area - diffusion is faster
Slow movement of blood though them (one RBC at a time) means more time for exchange of materials
Walls are single endothelial cell thick - short diffusion pathway
Function of venules
Link capillaries with veins
Several venules join to form a vein
Function of endothelium
Allows blood to flow easily (reduces friction to blood flow)
Structure of veins
Larger lumen - allow lower pressure, reduces resistance to flow Endothelium Elastic fibres Smooth muscle Collagen fibres
Function of veins
Transport deoxygenated blood at a lower pressure back to heart
Enable blood flow in only one direction - valves