3.8 - Transport in Animals Flashcards
What substances are transported in animals?
- O₂
- Nutrients e.g. glucose, amino acids
- Hormones
- Waste products e.g. urea, CO₂
- Heat
Why is there a need for transport systems in animals?
- Low SA:V ratio - diffusion is not efficient enough alone
- Level of activity - animals need to be able to move around and maintain a constant body temperature this requires for O₂ and glucose to be transported for aerobic respiration
- The larger the organisms the more specialised areas become - e.g. food is absorbed in the intestines and then transported to all cells and tissues; excretion can be performed efficiently by organs such as the kidneys
- Hormone and enzyme transport
List the features of an efficient transport system
- A transport medium (blood)
- Vessels to contain the medium
- Pump to move medium under pressure
- Method to maintain flow in one direction (valves)
- Exchange surfaces for substances to enter and leave (capillaries).
What is an open circulatory system?
One where blood does not always remain in the vessels e.g. in an insect.
Describe the circulatory system in an insect
- Open circulatory system
- Its tubular ‘heart’ pumps haemolymph to the body cavity (haemocoeb) via peristalsis
- Exchange happens directly at the cells
- Food and Nitrogenous waste (urea, Ammonia) are exchanged
- NO GASES ARE EXCHANGED - they are transported through the respiratory system
Describe how the circulatory system functions in an insect
- Tissues/cells are bathed directly in haemolymph
- Blood enters the ‘heart’ through pores called ostia
- Blood is pumped towards the head
- At the head blood pours out into the body cavity
- Blood remains at low pressure and flow is slow.
Why do insects have open circulatory systems?
- Insects are small, blood does not have to travel far
- They have a separate transport system for O₂
What is a disadvantage of an open circulatory system?
They are inefficient as a steep concentration gradient cannot be maintained. Blood will never be 100% refreshed. Blood is close to equilibrium with the exchange surfaces for much of the time.
What is a closed circulatory system?
One where blood always remains within the vessels. Separate fluid bathes cells (tissue fluid).
Why are closed circulatory systems needed?
- Animals are large
- Heart can pump blood at a higher pressure so that it
flows more quickly - Blood transports O₂ and CO₂
What is a single circulatory system?
One where blood flows through the heart once for each complete circulation of the body. e.g. in fish.
How do fish cope with single circulatory systems?
- Fish are Poikilothermic (cold blooded)
- Water supports body in movement
- Counter current flow is very efficient at picking up O₂
and removing CO₂.
These all reduce the amount of respiration required for fish to stay alive. - Blood flowing through gill and organ capillaries is
slowed down due to extensive contact with capillary
walls therefore increasing time for diffusion.
What is a double circulatory system?
One where blood flows through the heart twice for each complete circulation of the body.
How does the double circulatory system differ from the single?
- Blood passes through heart twice for each circulation
of body - Double is more efficient
- Heart increases BP after pressure has been reduced
from passing through capillaries in the lungs so blood
will flow more quickly to body tissues.
Describe the features of an artery
- Narrow lumen
- Contains a smooth endothelium lining
- Contains elastic fibres in the walls
- Contains smooth muscle in the walls
- Contains collagen fibres in the walls.
How are the features of an artery adapted to their function?
Narrow lumen - increases blood pressure Smooth endothelium - reduces friction Elastic fibres - stretch and recoil Smooth muscle - constriction Collagen fibres - withstand high pressure to prevent bursting
Describe the features of a vein
- Large lumen
- Smooth endothelium lining
- Valves
- Collagen fibres (smooth muscle and elastic fibres are
few)
How are the features of a vein adapted to their function?
Large lumen - pressure drops, reducing resistance
Smooth endothelium - reduces friction
Valves - prevent backflow of blood
Describe the features of a capillary
- Walls are one cell thick
- Narrow lumen
How are the features of a capillary adapted to their function?
Thin walls - short diffusion distance (quick)
Narrow lumen - allows only one RBC through at a time, slowing flow of blood and maximising time for diffusion.
What is the function of plasma?
Plasma transports chemicals and heat around the body.
What chemicals does plasma transport?
- Important molecules, like glucose
- Waste products
- Mineral salts
- Hormones
- Plasma proteins
- Respiratory gases