B2 ORGANISATION Flashcards
what is a cell?
the basic building block of a living organism
what is a tissue?
a group of cells with a similar structure and function working together.
what is an organ?
a collection of tissues with a similar structure and function working together.
what is an organ system?
a group of organs working together to perform a specific function.
what is the main function of the digestive system?
large food molecules are broken down into small molecules by enzymes.
small molecules can then be absorbed into the bloodstream.
what are the 3 nutrients that a food contains?
carbohydrates e.g starch
protein
lipids (fats)
what is the function of the mouth?
enzymes in the saliva begin to digest the starch into smaller sugar molecules.
what is the function of the stomach?
(enzymes begin the digestion of proteins)
the stomach contains hydrochloric acid which helps the enzyme to digest proteins.
churning action of the stomach muscles turns the food into a fluid increasing the surface area for enzymes to digest.
what is the function of the small intestine?
the walls of the small intestine release enzymes to continue the digestion of proteins and lipids.
small food molecules=absorbed into the blood stream by either diffusion or active transport
what is the function of the liver?
releases bile which helps speed up the digestion of lipids.
neutralises the acid released from the stomach
what is the function of the pancreas?
releases enzymes =digestion of starch and proteins= start the digestion of lipids.
what is the function of the large intestine?
fluid makes its way through the large intestine where water is absorbed into the blood stream.
faeces is released from the body
how are the products of digestion used?
used by the body to build new carbohydrates , lipids and proteins (some of the glucose produced is used in respiration)
what is an enzyme?
catalyse (speed up) chemical reactions
what are the features of an enzymes?
are large protein molecules
have a groove on their surface called active sites.
the active site is where the substrate attaches to
how does the shape of an enzyme affect its function?
enzymes have specific active site which is complementary to their substrate (lock and key theory)
explain how the enzymes work?
substrate fits perfectly into the active site , the enzyme now breaks down the substrate into the products
what are proteins broken down by?
proteases
where is proteases found?
stomach , pancreas , small intestine
what are proteins
long chains of amino acids
explain how proteases work?
protein=individual amino acids = absorbed into bloodstream=absorbed by body cells together in a different order to make human proteins
what is starch?
chain of glucose molecules
how are carbohydrates broken down?
carbohydrases (starch = amylase)
when starch is digested what do we produce
simple sugars
where is amylase found
saliva and pancreatic fluid
what does a lipid molecule consist of?
molecule of glycerol attached to three molecules of fatty acids
how are lipid molecules digested?
by the enzyme lipase , this produces glycerol and fatty acids
where is lipase found?
pancreatic fluid and small intestine
where is bile made and stored?
made = liver
stored = gallbladder
what is the point of bile?
speeds up the digestion of lipids (not an enzyme)
what does bile do?
bile emulsifies the lipid (converts large lipids into smaller droplets)
increases surface area of lipid droplets and increases the rate of lipid breakdown by lipase
what does bile also do?
its an alkaline which means it neutralises stomach acid , creating alkaline conditions in the small intestine.
increases the rate of lipid digestion by lipase.
how does temperature effect enzyme action?
as temp increases= enzymes and substrates are moving faster = more collisions per second between the substrate and the active site.
at a certain temp the enzyme is working at the fastest possible rate (optimum temperature) = maximum frequency of successful collisions between the substrate and active site.
increasing the temp after optimum temp = enzyme will rapidly decrease to 0 because= enzyme molecules vibrates and the shape of the active site changes (denatured)
enzyme can no longer catalyse the reaction
how does pH affect enzyme action
enzyme has an optimum pH where the activity is as its maximum , if we make the pH more acidic or more alkaline then the activity drops to zero (active site denatures if conditions are too alkaline or two acidic)
how long is the small intestine
around 5m
provides very large surface area for absorption of the products of digestion
what is the interior of small intestine covered with?
millions of villi
increases large surface area for the absorption of molecules
where is microvilli found?
villi
what does microvilli do?
increase surface area
adaptations of villi?
very good blood supply , so the bloodstream rapidly removes the product of digestion , this increases the surface concentration gradient.
thin membranes = short diffusion path
all of these features mean there is a rapid rate of diffusion , any molecules which cannot be absorbed by diffusion are absorbed by active transport
do humans double or single circulatory system?
double
what is the heart
an organ consisting of mainly muscle tissue
what is the job of the heart?
pumps blood around the body
how many chambers do the heart have and what are they called?
4
left atrium
right atrium
left ventricle
right ventricle
describe the process of blood flow through the heart?
vena cava brings in deoxygenated blood from the body
the blood passes from the heart to the lungs pulmonary artery (in the lungs blood collects oxygen)
oxygenated blood passes from the lungs to the heart in the pulmonary vein , then the oxygenated blood is pumped from the heart to the body in the aorta
what is the pattern of the blood flow through the heart?
first blood enters the left atrium and the right atrium , the atria now contract and the blood is forced into the ventricles , the ventricles now contract and force blood out of the heart.
what is the point of valves?
stop the blood from flowing backwards into the atria when the ventricle contracts
why does the left side of the heart have a thick muscular wall then the right?
pumps blood around the whole entire body
what is the purpose of the coronary artery?
provide oxygen to the muscle cells of the heart (the oxygen is used in respiration to provide the energy for contraction)
what is the heart rate controlled by?
pacemaker
what is a pacemaker
group of cells
what is an artificial pacemaker?
small electrical device and it corrects irregularities in the heart rate
what is the function of the arteries?
transport blood away from the heart (usually at high pressure)
adaptations of arteries?
very thick muscular walls - allows them to withstand high pressure of the blood
thick elastic layer - allows arteries to stretch and recoil in order to withstand higher pressure.
what is the function of the capillaries?
enable transfer of substances between the blood and tissues
adaptations of capillaries
very thin walls = diffusion paths is short = this allows substances to diffuse rapidly between the blood and body cells
what is the function of veins?
carry blood towards the heart
adaptations of veins?
thin wall = blood pressure is low so the walls don’t need to be thick.
valves = stop blood flowing backwards (when blood is flowing through right direction, then the valves open to allow the blood to flow through)(when the blood starts to flow backwards , the valves shut)
what is plasma?
a yellow liquid which transport substances from the body
what substances are transported by plasma?
soluble digestion
carbon dioxide
waste product urea
red blood cells
white blood cells
platelets
function of red blood cells?
transport oxygen from the lungs to the body cells
adaptations of red blood cells?
contain haemoglobin ( haemoglobin combines with oxygen in the lungs forming the molecules oxyhaemoglobin , then the red blood cells travel to the organs where oxyhaemoglobin releases the oxygen)
no nucleus = more room for haemoglobin
dimples (centre of the cell) = biconcave disc = greater surface area so that oxygen can diffuse in and out rapidly
function of white blood cells?
form part of the immune system
adaptations of white blood cells?
contains nucleus.= contains DNA= encodes instructions that the white blood cells need to do their job
what is a platelet?
tiny fragment of cells
function of platelet?
to help the blood clot