B4 - Organising Animals And Plants Flashcards
Components of the blood and functions?
- Red blood cells - carry oxygen
- White blood cells - protects body against infection and foreign pathogens
- Platelets - small fragments of cells. Help blood clot as a wound.
- Plasma - yellow liquid that has blood cells suspended in it and transports proteins and other substances around the body.
How are red blood cells adapted?
- biconcave disc shape which increases SA:V ratio for diffusion of oxygen
- packed with haemoglobin that binds to oxygen
- no nucleus to make more space for haemoglobin
How does the blood clot?
Enzymes help convert fibrinogen to fibrin, which produces a network of protein fibres that captures blood cells and forms a clot to stop excessive bleeding. This dries and hardens to form a scab which stops bacteria entering the body
What does the plasma carry? And where does it take them?
- Waste CO2 produced by the cells -> lungs
- Urea formed in liver from break down of proteins -> kidneys
- Small soluble products of digestion -> from small intestine to cells
3 main types of blood vessels?
Arteries, veins, capillaries
What direction to arteries carry blood?
Away from heart and to organs. (Oxygenated)
What direction do veins carry blood?
Towards the heart away from the organs (deoxygenated blood)
Capillaries allow…
The diffusion of substances such as oxygen and glucose into the cells, and substances such as CO2 to diffuse into blood.
Define a double circulatory system?
One system carries blood from the heart to the lungs and back. One system carries blood from the heart all around the body and back.
Function of stents?
Keep narrowed or blocked arteries open
Function of statins?
Reduce cholesterol levels in blood, reducing risk of coronary heart disease.
What is a natural pacemaker?
A group of cells in the right atrium that form a natural pacemaker
Adaptions of alveoli?
- has a good blood supply which maintains a steep concentration gradient for diffusion by removing CO2 from the lungs and bringing in lots of O2
- rounded shape providing for a large surface area for diffusion (lungs contain many alveoli –> large surface area)
- thin alveolus wall (one cell thick) providing a short diffusion distance
- moist walls allow gases to diffuse and cross membrane more easily
Examples of plant organ systems?
Roots, stem and leaves form an organ system
Define translocation?
The movement of dissolved sugars from leaves to the rest of the plant.