3A: Exchange Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

When substances enter or leave an organism what do they go through?

A

The plasma membrane (phospholipid bilayer)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is an exchange surface?

- What do they always include?

A

Any surface across which substances are transferred is called an exchange surface.
- They always include a cellular membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a negative of being a multicellular organism?

A

The distance between the exterior and interior environments are too great for substances to simply diffuse
- This means that multicellular organisms have had to evolve increasingly more intricate systems for exchanging substances with their environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Give some examples of exchange surfaces in animals (5)

A
  • Alveoli (lungs)
  • Capillaries
  • Villi (small intestine)
  • Synapses
  • Large intestine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What substances are exchanged across exchange surfaces?

A
  • Oxygen
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Water
  • Glucose
  • Fatty acids
  • Amino acids
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Urea
  • Heat
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

(Apart from heat) substances can be exchanged in 2 ways, what are they?

A
  • Passively (no metabolic energy required) by diffusion and osmosis
  • Actively (metabolic energy required) by active transport
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do you calculate SA : V?

A

SA/V = _ : 1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the 5 common traits of exchange surfaces?

A
  1. Large SA:V
  2. Very thin so diffusion can occur across a short distance
  3. Selectively permeable - control which substances enter/ exit
  4. Movement of environment to the medium
  5. A transport system to move internal medium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Give 2 examples of animal exchange surfaces

A
  1. Vili

2. Alveoli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Give an example of an exchange surface in a plant

A

Root hair cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What advantages do unicellular organisms have involving exchange surfaces?

A
  • Substances are able to diffuse across the cell membrane due to the small distance between interior and exterior environments
  • High SA:V
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

In insects, the increase in surface area required for gas exchange conflicts with what?

A

Conflicts with conserving water.

= because water will evaporate from it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the features of an insects (tracheal) gas exchange system?

A
  • Tracheae
  • Tracheoles
  • Spiracles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe the tracheae in insects

A
  • Internal network of tubes
  • Supported and strengthened by rings to prevent them from collapsing
  • Divide into smaller dead- end tubes called tracheoles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe the tracheoles in insects

A
  • Dead-end tubes
  • Extend throughout all the body tissues of the insect
  • Short diffusion pathway from a tracheole to any body cell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe how gases move in and out of an insect along a diffusion gradient

A
  • Cell respiration uses O₂ up and so its conc. decreases towards the end of the tracheoles
  • This creates a diffusion gradient that causes oxygen to diffuse from the tracheae and the tracheoles into cells
  • Cell respiration produces CO₂
  • This creates a diffusion gradient in the opposite direction: CO₂ diffuses from the cells to the tracheoles and tracheae
  • Diffusion in the air is faster than in water, gases are exchanged quickly by this method
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe how gases move in and out of an insect using mass transport

A

The contraction of muscles in insects can squeeze the trachea enabling mass movements of air in and out.
- This further speeds up the exchange of respiratory gases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the 3 methods insects use to exchange gases?

A
  • Mass transport
  • Diffusion gradient
  • Ends of the tracheoles being filled with water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe how the ends of the tracheoles being filled with water enables insects to exchange gases (oxygen debt)

A
  • During periods of major activity, the muscle cells around the tracheoles respire and carry out some anaerobic respiration.
  • Produces lactic acid = insoluble and lowers WP in cells
  • The water at the ends of the tracheoles decreases in volume (as it is drawn into the cells) which leaves more room for oxygen (which is also drawn into the cells)
  • Means that the final diffusion pathway is in a gas rather than a liquid phase = diffusion is more rapid
  • This increases the rate at which air is moved in the tracheoles but leads to greater water evaporation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In insects, gases enter/ exit tracheae through tiny pores - what are these called?

A

Spiracles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How can the spiracles in an insect be opened and closed?

A

By a valve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Describe what happens to water vapour when the spiracles are open

A

Water vapour can evaporate from the insect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Most of the time insects keep their spiracles closed, why do they do this?

A

To prevent water loss.

- They periodically open their spiracles to allow gas exchange.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are some limitations of the tracheal system in insects

A
  • It relies mostly on diffusion to exchange gases between the environment and the cells
  • For diffusion to be effective the pathway needs to be short = which is why insects are small
  • As a result the length of the diffusion pathway limits the size the insect can be.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What does the diffusion pathway need to be like to make diffusion effective?

A

The pathway must be short. This is why insects are small

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Describe the outer covering of a fish

A

Waterproof and therefore gas proof

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the SA:V of fish like?

A

Because they are relatively large they have a small SA:V

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What do gills consist of?

A

Gill filaments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Describe the gill filaments

A

Stacked up in a pile (like the pages in a book)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Where are the gill lamellae in relation to the filaments?

A

At right angles to the filaments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What do the gill lamellae do to the SA of the gills?

A

They increase the SA of the gills

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Describe the movement of water through a fish

A

Water is taken in through the mouth and forced over the gills and out through an opening on each side of the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What can the flow of water over the gill lamellae and the flow of blood be described as?

A

A countercurrent flow

- They flow in opposite directions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What is the countercurrent flow important for?

A

It is important for ensuring that the maximum possible gas exchange is achieved.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What would gas exchange (in fish) be like if blood and water flowed in the same direction?

A

Far less gas exchange would take place if blood and water flowed in the same direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What is the countercurrent exchange principle?

A

Blood and water flow over the gill lamellae in opposite directions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What does the countercurrent flow mean for oxygenated blood?

A

Blood near 100% O2 saturation meets water at 100% O2 saturation
= Oxygen diffuses from the water to the blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What does the countercurrent flow mean for deoxygenated blood?

A
  • Blood with 0% O₂ saturation meets water with an O₂ saturation of near 0%
    = Diffusion of O₂ from the water to blood takes place
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Countercurrent flow results in a diffusion gradient of __1__being maintained across the entire __2__of the __3__

A

1- oxygen
2- width
3- gill lamellae

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Countercurrent flow results in a diffusion gradient of which substance?

A

Oxygen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

What does the countercurrent flow mean for the diffusion of oxygen? What does this result in?

A
  • A diffusion gradient is maintained across the entire gill lamellae
  • As a result around 80% of the oxygen available in the water is absorbed by the fish
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What would concurrent (parallel) flow mean for the diffusion of oxygen? What would this result in?

A
  • A diffusion gradient is maintained for only half of the distance across the gill lamellae
  • Only 50% of the oxygen from the water diffuses into the blood
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What does the volumes and types of gases that are being exchanged by plants depend on?

A

The balance between the rates of photosynthesis and respiration.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Describe the trachea

A
  • A flexible tube supported by many cartilaginous rings.
  • Rings allow the trachea to stay open when inhalation causes the air pressure in the tube decreased.
  • The trachea wall is made up of muscle and lined with ciliated epithelial cells and goblet cells
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q
  • Where are goblet cells found?

- What are their function?

A
  • In the tracheal wall

- They produce mucus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q
  • Where are the ciliated epithelial cells found?

- What are their function?

A
  • In the tracheal wall

- They waft the mucus up out of the lungs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Describe the lungs

A
  • A pair of lobed structures

- Made up from a series of highly branched tubes (bronchioles)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What is the function of mucus (in the trachea)?

A
  • Traps dirt and particles etc. and stops them from entering the lungs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Describe the bronchioles

A
  • Within the structure of the lungs
  • Heavily branched to carry air to all the parts of the lungs
  • Their walls are made up of muscles which allows them to regulate the flow of air into and out of the alveoli by contraction of the pipes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Describe the alveoli

A
  • Minute air sacs which measure 100- 300μm across
  • Positioned at the ends of the bronchioles
  • Can stretch to pull air in (collagen and elastic fibres help to do this) and spring back to expel co2
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Describe 6 key adaptations for gas exchange at the alveoli

how they have evolved to function

A
  1. Red blood cells are slowed as they pass through the narrow capillaries, increasing time for diffusion
  2. Red blood cells are flattened against the capillary walls reducing diffusion pathway
  3. Both alveoli + capillaries have very thin walls
  4. Alveoli + capillaries have a massive shred surface area
  5. Breathing movements keep the lungs ventilated, replacing the external medium
  6. The flow of blood maintains the conc. gradients for exchange
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

List the features of the human respiratory system (in order of air coming in)

A
Larynx 
Trachea 
Bronchi 
Bronchioles 
Alveoli --> capillaries
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

What is the space around the lungs called?

A

The pleural space

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

What are the membranes around the lungs called?

A

The pleural membranes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

What is the thorax?

A

Chest area

- Inside it is called the thoracic cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Describe inspiration (breathing in)

A
  • The external intercostal muscles contract, while the internal intercostal muscle relax
  • The ribs are pulled upwards and outwards = increases the volume of the thorax
  • Diaphragm muscles contract, it flattens = increases the volume of the thorax
  • Increased vol of thorax = lower pressure in the lungs
  • Atmospheric pressure is now greater than the pressure inside the lungs –> so the air is then forced into the lungs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Describe expiration

A
  • The internal intercostal muscles relax, while the intercostal muscle contract
  • The ribs are pulled downwards and inwards = decreases the volume of the thorax
  • Diaphragm muscles relax, so its pushed up again by the contents of the abdomen that were compressed during inspiration. The vol of the thorax is further decreased
  • Decreased vol of thorax = higher pressure in the lungs
  • Pulmonary pressure is now greater than the atmospheric pressure –> so the air is forced out of the lungs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

How can the relationship between internal and external extra coastal muscles be described?

A

Antagonistic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Why are the lungs located inside the body?

A
  • Air is not dense enough to support and protect these delicate structures
  • Water loss could not be regulated, so the body would lose a lot of water and dry out
  • Pollutants and pathogens could
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

What is the function of the ribcage?

A

To protect the lungs

- Can be moved by the (intercostal) muscles between them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

State 2 reasons why humans need to absorb large volumes of oxygen from the lungs.

A

Any 2 from:

  • Humans are large/ have a large volume of cells
  • Humans have a high metabolic rate
  • Humans have a high body temp
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

How do the cells lining the trachea and bronchus protect the alveoli from damage?

A
  • Goblet cells produce mucus
  • Ciliated epithelial cells waft the mucus up the trachea (to prevent it settling in the lungs) and into the stomach
  • This mucus traps particles of dirt and pathogens in the air breathed in.
  • Because the dirt/ pathogens could damage the alveoli
63
Q

Describe what muscles are used in normal breathing.

How is this different to more strenuous conditions?

A

During normal breathing, the recoil of the elastic tissue in the lungs is the main cause of air being forced out.

Only in more strenuous conditions such as exercise do the various muscles play a major role

64
Q

What is pulmonary ventilation rate?

A

The total volume of air that is moved into the lungs during 1 minute

65
Q

What is the tidal volume?

What is this usually?

A

The volume of air normally taken in at each breath when the body is at rest

Usually around = 0.5dm³

66
Q

What is the ventilation (breathing) rate?

What is this normally?

A

The number of breaths taken in 1 minute

Normally 12-20 breaths in a healthy adult

67
Q

How do you calculate pulmonary ventilation rate?

A

PVR = tidal volume x breathing rate

68
Q

What is the unit for pulmonary ventilation rate?

A

dm³ min-1

69
Q

What is the unit for tidal volume?

A

dm³

70
Q

What is the unit for breathing rate?

A

min-1

71
Q

What are 5 adaptions of xerophytic plants?

A
  1. Shallow + wide roots (for desert like conditions)
  2. Thick cuticle
  3. Rolling up of leaves
  4. Hairy leaves
  5. Stomata in pits/ grooves
72
Q

What are the (7) key features of the digestive system

A
  • Salivary glands
  • Oesophagus
  • Stomach
  • Pancreas
  • Ileum
  • Large intestine
  • Rectum
73
Q

Describe the features of the structure of the leaf of a dicotyledonous plant

(From top to bottom)

A
  • Waxy cuticle
  • Upper epidermis
  • Palisade mesophyll
  • Spongy mesophyll
  • Lower epidermis (with guard cells and stomata)
  • Waxy cuticle
74
Q

Describe the waxy cuticle’s function in plant leaves

A

Stops water from leaving the leaf (made from lipids)

75
Q

What is the function of the upper epidermis in plant leaves?

A

Protection

76
Q

What is the function of the palisade mesophyll in plant leaves?

A

Primary location of photosynthesis

77
Q

What is the function of the spongy mesophyll in plant leaves?

A
  • Allows gases to circulate

- Increases the surface area

78
Q

What is the function of the lower epidermis in plant leaves?

A

Adaptation = high conc. of stomata

79
Q

Describe the stomata and their function in plant leaves

A
  • Minute pore, surrounded by 2 guard cells (on either side)
  • The guard cells can:
    swell open + allow gas exchange while water is available

OR

close when water is short in supply

80
Q

In xerophytic plants, what is the function of their rolled-up leaves?

A
  • Protects the lower epidermis from the outside
  • Helps trap a region of still air within the rolled leaf
  • This region becomes saturated with water vapor so it has a very high water potential
  • There is no water potential gradient between the inside + outside if the leaf so no water loss
81
Q

What is the similarity in stomata location between xerophytic plants and dicotyledonous plants?

A

Most plants have their stomata largely, or entirely on their lower epidermis

82
Q

Give an example of a xerophytic plant that has rolled up leaves.

A

The Marram grass

83
Q

In xerophytic plants, how do their rolled up leaves limit water loss?

A
  • The leaves trap a region of still air within the rolled leaf
  • This means that the region becomes highly saturated with water = so it has a very high water potential
  • This means that there is no water gradient between inside and outside of the leaf
    = no water loss
84
Q

In xerophytic plants, what is the function of hairy leaves?

A
  • A thick layer of hairs on leaves, especially on the lower epidermis, traps still moist air next to the leaf surface
  • The water potential gradient between the inside and outside of the leaves is reduced
  • Therefore less water is lost by evaporation
85
Q

In xerophytic plants, why is it especially important that a thick layer of hairs is on the lower epidermis?

A
  • Because the lower epidermis contains the stomata and guard cells, which is how gases enter and exit the leaf
  • Meaning that it is more important the moist still air is concentrated around the stomata because only through there can oxygen enter
86
Q

In xerophytic plants, what is the function of the stomata being in pits/ grooves?

A

These trap still moist air next to the leaf and reduce the water potential gradient = reducing water loss

87
Q

Give an example of a xerophytic plant that has hairy leaves

A

One type of Heather plant

88
Q

In xerophytic plants, what is the function of a reduced SA:V ratio of the leaves?

A
  • The smaller the SA: V = the slower the rate of diffusion
  • By having leaves that are small + roughly circular (in cross section) rather than being broad + flat the rate of water loss can be considerably reduced.
89
Q

Define xerophyte

A

A species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water, such as a desert or an ice- or snow-covered region

90
Q

Give 2 examples of xerophytic plants

A

Cacti + Marram grass

91
Q

What is the reduction in SA in xerophytic plant leaves balanced against?

A

The reduction in SA is balanced against the need for a sufficient area for photosynthesis to meet the requirements of the plant

92
Q

Give an example of a xerophytic plant leaf that has a reduced surface area.
- What does this limit & why?

A

Pine needles

- The reduced SA considerably reduces water loss because a smaller SA = a slower diffusion rate

93
Q

Insects and plants face the same problems when it comes to living on land. What is the main problem they share?

A
  • Efficient gas exchange requires a thin, permeable surface with a large area
  • On land these features can lead to a considerable loss of water by evaporation
94
Q

State 1 modification to reduce water loss that is shared by plants and insects.

A
  • Waterproof covering of the body

- Ability to close the openings of the gas exchange system (stomata/ spiracles)

95
Q

Insects limit water loss by having a small SA:V. Why is this not a feasible way of limiting water loss in plants?

A

Plants photosynthesise and therefore need a large SA to capture light

96
Q

What is digestion?

A

The breaking down of large biological molecules found in food, by hydrolysis, to allow them to be absorbed by digestive exchange surfaces

97
Q

What is the function of the Salivary glands?

A

To secrete saliva which helps to lubricate food but also contains amylase (breaks down starch)

98
Q

What is the function of the Oesophagus?

A

It is a smooth tube which transports food to the stomach

99
Q

What is the function of the Stomach?

A

Stores and digests foods, especially proteins. Low pH = optimum for proteases

100
Q

What is the role of the pancreas in digestion

A

It is a large gland that secretes pancreatic juice just after the stomach. This juice contains enzymes that break down the lipids, proteins and carbs in food

101
Q

What does the pancreas contain?

A

It contains proteases, lipases and amylase

102
Q

What is peristalsis?

A

The process by which food moves through the digestive system, involving muscle contraction. (see diagram)

103
Q

What is the function of the ileum?

A
  • Secretes many digestive enzymes

- Has a massive SA due to epithelial cells covered in villi

104
Q

What is the scientific name for the small intestine?

A

The ileum

105
Q

What is the function of the large intestine?

A

It absorbs water

106
Q

Why is the large intestine essential?

A

It is essential in reclaiming the water that is secreted by the many digestive glands

107
Q

What is the function of the rectum?

A

Faeces are stored here prior to periodic egestion

108
Q

Describe stage 1 of carbohydrate digestion

  • Where does it occur?
  • What is hydrolysed?
  • What is it hydrolysed by?
  • What is released?
A
  • Digestion of carbohydrates begins in the mouth
  • Here the saliva is mixed with the food through chewing
  • Starch starts to be hydrolysed by salivary amylase into maltose
  • The salivary amylase also contains mineral salts that maintain a neutral pH
109
Q

Describe stage 2 of carbohydrate digestion

  • Where does it occur?
  • What are the conditions like?
A
  • The food is swallowed and enters the stomach, where the conditions are acidic
  • The acid denatures the amylase which stops further hydrolysis of the starch
110
Q

Describe stage 3 of carbohydrate digestion

A
  • After a time the food is passed from the stomach to the ileum
  • The pancreas secretes pancreatic juice which is mixed with the food
  • The pancreatic juice contains pancreatic amylase, this continues the hydrolysis of starch into maltose
  • The intestinal wall and pancreas both produce alkaline salts keep the pH neutral so the amylase can function
111
Q

What bonds do lipases break when digesting lipids?

A

The ester bonds

112
Q

What is released when lipids are digested?

A

ONE monoglyceride and TWO fatty acids

113
Q

What is a monoglyceride?

A

A glycerol head bonded to a single fatty acid tail

114
Q

Describe stage 4 of carbohydrate digestion

A
  • Muscles in the intestine wall push the food along to the ileum
  • The ileums epithelial lining produces the enzyme called maltase
  • Maltase breaks down the maltose from starch breakdown into alpha glucose
115
Q

What is maltase?

- Where is it produced?

A
  • Maltase is a disaccharidase
  • It is produced by the epithelial lining of the ileum
  • Maltase is NOT released into the lumen of the ileum but instead is part of the cell-surface membranes of the epithelial cells that line the ileum.
116
Q

What is maltase referred to as?

A

It is referred to as a membrane bound disaccharidase

117
Q

What is the membrane-bound disaccharidase that hydrolyses sucrose?

What does this produce?

A

Sucrase

  • It hydrolyses the single glycosidic bond in the sucrose molecule
  • This produces two monosaccharides glucose and fructose
118
Q

What is the membrane-bound disaccharidase that hydrolyses lactose?

What does this produce?

A

Lactase

  • It hydrolyses the single glycosidic in the lactose molecule
  • This produces the two monosaccharides glucose and galactose
119
Q

What is the enzyme that hydrolyses lipids called?

A

Lipases

120
Q

Where are lipases produced?

A

In the pancreas

121
Q

What bond do lipases hydrolyse?

A

They break the ester bond found in triglycerides

122
Q

What does the hydrolysation of a triglyceride produce?

A

Fatty acids and one monoglyceride

123
Q

What are lipids first split up into?

  • By what?
  • What is this process called?
A

Lipids are first spilt up into micelles (tiny droplets) by bile salts
- This process is called emulsification

124
Q

Where are bile salts produced?

A

In the liver

125
Q

Why are lipids emulsified?

A

Lipids are emulsified into micelles because it increases the surface area of the lipid to accelerate the effect of digestive enzymes (lipases)

126
Q

What is the group of enzymes that break down proteins called?

A

Peptidases

127
Q

What are peptidases also known as?

A

Proteases

128
Q

What are the 3 types of peptidases?

A
  • Endopeptidases
  • Exopeptidases
  • Dipeptidases
129
Q

What is the function of endopeptidases?

A

Endopeptidases hydrolyse the peptide bonds between amino acids in the central region of a protein molecule forming a series of peptide molecules

130
Q

What is the function of exopeptidases?

A
  • Exopeptidases hydrolyse the peptide bonds on the terminal amino acids of the peptide molecules formed by endopeptidases
  • In this way the progressively release dipeptides and single amino acids
131
Q

What is the function of dipeptidases?

A

Dipeptidases hydrolyse the peptide bond between the two amino acids of a dipeptide

–> Dipeptidases are membrane bound, and are part of the cell- surface membrane of the epithelial cells lining the ileum

132
Q

List 2 structures that produce amylase

A

Salivary glands and pancreas

133
Q

Suggest why the stomach doesn’t have villi or microvilli

A
  • Villi and microvilli increase surface area to speed up the absorption of soluble molecules. - As the food in the stomach has not yet been hydrolysed into soluble molecules they cannot be absorbed and so villi and microvilli are unnecessary
134
Q

Name the final product of starch digestion in the gut

A

Alpha glucose

135
Q

List 3 enzymes produced by the epithelium of the ileum

A

Maltase
Sucrase
Lactase

136
Q

Describe the structure of villi

A

Thin walls lined with epithelial cells on the other side of which is a rich network of blood capillaries

137
Q

Describe what the wall of the ileum is like

A

The wall of ileum is folded and possessed finger like projections, about 1mm long, called villi. These have micro villi = large SA

138
Q

How do villi increase the efficiency of absorption? (5 ways)

A
  • They increase the SA for diffusion
  • Thin walled –> reduces the diffusion pathway
  • They are well supplied with blood vessels = blood can carry away absorbed molecules and maintain a diffusion gradient
  • Contain muscles so they can move
  • The epithelial cells lining the villi possess microvilli.
139
Q

How does the fact that villi have muscles mean they increase the efficiency of absorption?

A
  • Contain muscle so they can move
  • This helps to maintain diffusion gradient because their movement mixes the contents of the ileum
  • This ensures that, as the products of digestion are absorbed from the food adjacent to the villi, new material rich in the products of digestion replaces it
140
Q

How does the fact that the epithelial cells lining the villi have microvilli increase the efficiency of absorption

A

The microvilli are finger-like projections of the cells surface membrane that further increase the SA for absorption.

141
Q

What are the cells that line the villi called?

A

Epithelial cells

142
Q

What is a lacteal?

A
  • A tiny lymphatic vessel
  • Absorbs fatty acids + glycerol
  • Found at the centre of each villus
143
Q

What does the blood capillary in the villi absorb?

A

It absorbs glucose and amino acids

144
Q

Once monoglycerides + fatty acids are formed during digestion what do they remain in association with?

A

Once formed in digestion monoglycerides + fatty acids remain in association with the bile salts that initially emulsified the lipid droplet

145
Q

What happens relating to micelles during the absorption of lipids?

A
  • Micelles are brought into contact with the ileum wall by peristalsis moving substances around the ileum.
  • After this the micelles break down releasing the monoglycerides + fatty acids.
146
Q

What about monoglycerides + fatty acids means that they can easily diffuse across the cell membrane of the epithelial cells?

A

The fact that they are non- polar molecules means that they can easily diffuse across the epithelial cells membrane

147
Q

What happens to the monoglycerides + fatty acids once they are inside the epithelial cells?

(Part of the absorption of triglycerides)

A

Once inside the epithelial cells, monoglycerides + fatty acids are transported to the (smooth) endoplasmic reticulum where they are recombined to form triglycerides.

148
Q

What process begins in the smooth ER and continues in the Golgi apparatus?

(Part of the absorption of triglycerides)

A

Starting in the smooth ER and continuing in the Golgi apparatus, the triglycerides associate with cholesterol and lipoproteins to form structures called chylomicrons

149
Q

What do chylomicrons transport?

A

Triglycerides (and other lipids)

150
Q

How do the chylomicrons move out of the epithelial cells?

Part of the absorption of triglycerides

A

Chylomicrons move out of the epithelial cells by exocytosis

151
Q

What do the chylomicrons enter after leaving the epithelial cells?

(Part of the absorption of triglycerides)

A

Next, they enter the lacteals that are found at the center of each villus

152
Q

What is exocytosis?

A

The process of leaving a cell via diffusion

153
Q

What happens after the chylomicrons enter the lacteals?

A
  • The chylomicrons pass, via lymphatic vessels, into the blood system.
  • The triglycerides in the chylomicrons are hydrolysed by an enzyme in the endothelial cells of capillaries from there they diffuse into cells
154
Q

How do stomata open? (4 stages)

What is this triggered by?

A
  1. Triggered by blue light
  2. The intake of K+ ions and sugar (and output of H+ ions) increases the solute potential in the guard cells
  3. As a result the water potential is decreased + so water enters the cell via osmosis
  4. This makes the cell turgid which causes the cells to bend away from each other and the stomata pore to open