B2.2 The Challenges Of Size Flashcards
Why do large multicellular organisms need transport systems?
They have a small surface area to volume ratio and so the rate of diffusion alone would not be fast enough to transport substances around
Give 4 examples of substances transported within organisms
- Oxygen is transported in for respiration
- CO2 is transported out from respiration
- Dissolved food molecules from digestion
- Urea and waste products
Why do mammals need a double circulatory system?
Double circulatory systems have blood at a higher pressure, allowing it to flow faster and move substances quickly around the body
Describe the double circulatory system in mammals
The heart pumps blood to the lungs, the oxygenated blood returns to the heart and is then pumped around the body
What is the difference in function between veins, arteries and capillaries?
Arteries carry blood away from the heart Veins carry blood towards (into) the heart
Capillaries flow close to tissues for exchange
Describe the structure of arteries
They have thick walls made of muscle and elastic tissue and a small lumen to transport blood under high pressure
Describe the structure of capillaries
They have thin walls about one cell thick to allow for the easy exchange of substances at the tissues.
Describe the structure of veins
Veins have less muscle and elastic tissue than arteries and they have a larger lumen as the blood is at lower pressure, they also have valves to prevent backflow
Describe the structure of the lungs
- The trachea branches into two bronchi
- The bronchi branch into bronchioles
- These bronchioles end in alveoli which are lined with capillaries for exchange
Describe the blood flow through the right side of the heart
- Deoxygenated blood flows into the right atrium from the vena cava
- This blood passes through the right AV valve into the right ventricle
- The blood is then pumped out of the heart to the lungs through the right SL valve and into the pulmonary artery
Describe the blood flow through the left side of the heart
- Blood enters into the left atrium from the pulmonary vein
- The blood is then pumped through the left AV valve into the left ventricle
- The blood is then pumped out through the left
SL valve and into the aorta
What is the name of the wall that separates the right and left sides of the heart?
The septum
What is the name of the artery that supplies the heart tissue with blood?
The coronary artery
What type of muscle is the heart made of?
Cardiac muscle
Why is the wall of the left ventricle thicker than the wall of the right ventricle?
The left ventricle has to pump blood a further distance around the whole body so the blood needs to be under a higher pressure