Biology a Flashcards
What is a partially permeable membrane ?
A membrane with very small holes in, only small molecules can pass through them
What is osmosis ?
The movement of water molecules across a partially permeable membrane from a region I high concentration to low concentration
How does water move in and out of cells ?
Through osmosis. Human cells have a semi permeable membrane - cell membrane
What is tissue fluid ?
It is what surrounds the cells in the body, it supplies the cells with everything it needs - water, oxygen, glucose, etc.
What three ways can substances move ?
Diffusion
Osmosis
Active transport
What is an exchange surface ?
It is what substances have to pass through, in osmosis, diffusion and active transport, in life processes. Like partially permeable membranes
How are exchange surfaces adapted for maximum effectiveness ?
- They are thin so the substance only has to pass a short distance
- Large surface area so more substances can pass through
- Good blood supply
What has the structure of a leaf adapted to do ?
Let gases diffuse in and out of cells
How has a leaf adapted to optimise gas and liquid exchange ?
- It has air gaps so carbon dioxide can diffuse into cells
- Underside of leaf covered with stomata
- Water vapour and oxygen diffuse out through stomata
- Flat shape of leaf increases area of exchange
How do guard cells affect stomata ?
They control stomata. They close if the stomata is losing too much water. Without guard cells the plant would wilt.
What is the thorax ?
The top part of your body
What separates the thorax from the abdomen (lower body) ?
The Diaphragm
How does the air you breath get into your lungs ?
It goes down the TRACHEA and is split into two tubes called BRONCHI. Each BRONCHUS progressively becomes smaller into tubes called BRONCHIOLES. They take the air to ALVEOLI where the gas exchange takes place.
What is ventilation ?
The movement of air in and out of the lungs
What are the intercostal muscles ?
Muscles between ribs
How do you breath in ?
As air goes in, intercostal muscles and the diaphragm contract. The thorax volume increases which lowers pressure in the lungs which draws the air in.
How do you breathe out ?
The intercostal muscles and the diaphragm relax which increases the pressure in the lungs which forces air out.
What do artificial ventilators do ?
They help people to breathe
What are villi ?
They are projections that line the surface of the small intestine. The increase surface area to absorb as much food as possible into the blood.
How are alveoli specialised to maximise diffusion ?
- A large surface area
- A moist lining for dissolving gases
- Very thin walls
- Good blood supply
What is the job of the lungs ?
To transfer oxygen into the blood and to remove waste carbon dioxide from it. They have millions of alveoli which are like little air sacks where gas exchange takes place.
What are cells on the surface of a plant’s root called and what do they do ?
Root hair cell. It sticks out into the soil which increases it’s surface area. As a result they are great at absorbing water and minerals
How are minerals taken in to the root hair cells ?
Through active transport
When does active transport take place ?
When the concentration of a substance in the area you want the substance to go to is high, diffusion cannot take place. This is when active transport is needed
What does active transport need for it to happen ?
Energy
Where does active transport take place in the human body ?
One example is When glucose is taken from the gut into the blood
What does phloem transport ?
Food
How do phloems work ?
They transport food substances from the leaves to growing regions like shoots. They do this by allowing the dissolved sugars to pass through small holes in the end
What do the xylem tubes transport ?
They transport water and minerals from the roots to the stem and leaves.
What are xylem constructed out of ?
Dead cells joined end to end
What is transpiration ?
The loss of water from a plant
How does transpiration work ?
When water evaporates from the leaf the new demand for water is met by the xylem vessels. This means that more water is drawn up from the soil by the root hair cells. It is a constant system.
What type of circulation system do humans have ?
Double circulatory system
How does the double circulatory system work ?
It is comprised of two circuits. One pumps deoxygenated blood to lungs to take in oxygen in. The second pumps oxygenated blood to cells
Where does the blood first enter the heart ?
In the atria (left and right atrium), coming from the vena cava and the pulmonary vein
How does the blood get from the atria to the ventricles ?
The atria contract, pushing the blood into the ventricles through a valve
What is the job of the valves in the heart ?
They stop blood from moving in the wrong direction in the heart
How does blood get from inside the ventricles to around the body ?
The ventricles contract which forces blood out via the pulmonary artery and the aorta which travel around the body
What do arteries do ?
Carry blood AWAY from the heart
What does a vein do ?
They carry blood TO the heart
What is the hole in the middle of blood vessels called ?
Lumen
Why do veins have large lumen ?
To help blood flow despite the low pressure
Thick muscles around the lumen are on veins or arteries ?
Arteries - the muscle makes them strong, the elastic fibres allow them to stretch and spring back under pressure.
What is the capillary ?
The third type of blood vessel. They are involved in the exchange of material at the tissues. They branch out from arteries