5.3 Water Functions Flashcards
What are the main functions of water?
- Provide structure
- Act as a solvent
- Facilitates hydrolysis
- Defend against infections
- Protection from injury
- Temperature regulation
What does water provide structure to?
Cells, eyes, synovial sacs, etc
What is a solvent?
Something other things can dissolve in
What kind of molecules dissolve in water?
Polar molecules
What is the benefit of water being a solvent?
- Allows them to move around watery environments (blood)
- Allows them to collide with other molecules that might react with them
What is hydrolysis?
Using water to split larger molecules into smaller ones
What is an example of hydrolysis?
Combining maltose and water to create 2 glucose
How does water defend against infections?
- Provide an environment for immune cells to fight off infection (lymph liquid)
- Is a main part of mucus, which helps expel infection agents
How does water protect from injuries?
- Synovial fluid/sacs full of water protects joints
- Mucus lines structures and offer protection
- Water around brain and spinal cord protect from forces (cerebral spinal fluid)
How does water help with temperature regulation?
- Evaporation of sweat cools down our body (humidity works against this)
- Blood shunting to skin surface promotes sweating
What happens when the body is unable to regulate temperature?
Heat illness can occur. Symptoms include heat cramping to heat stroke.
When does heat stroke occur? What are some symptoms?
When the body temp rises above 40 C.
Delirium, confusion, convulsions, coma, and death.
