Body Systems Flashcards
1
Q
What is an organic macromolecule
A
Very large molecules with a carbon backbone used by the body as a source of nutrients.
2
Q
What is a polymer
A
A chain of repeating units
3
Q
What is a monomer
A
The part that repeats in a polymer
4
Q
What are the two main types of carbohydrates
A
Simple sugars and complex sugars
5
Q
What are simple sugars used for
A
Short-term energy
6
Q
What are complex sugars used for
A
Long-term energy
7
Q
What are examples of simple carbs
A
Honey, cookies, chocolate, fruit
8
Q
What are examples of complex carbs
A
Bread, pasta, rice, potatoes
9
Q
What are lipids and what are they used for
A
Oils and fats made of 3 fatty acids and glycerol. Used for long-term storage of energy
10
Q
Give examples of lipids
A
Avocado, butter, ice cream, seeds
11
Q
What are the subunits that make up proteins
A
Amino acids
12
Q
What are functions that proteins can serve
A
Build/grow muscle, use enzymes to speed up chemical reactions in the body, carries oxygen, are antibodies
13
Q
What do enzymes do? why are they necessary?
A
Enzymes are proteins, speed up the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Without enzymes, chemical reactions would happen very slow in the body.
14
Q
What enzyme is used to break down carbohydrates and what does it break down into?
A
Carbohydrase -> simple sugars usually glucose
15
Q
What enzyme is used to break down lipids and what does it break down into?
A
Lipase -> 3 fatty acids and glycerol
16
Q
What enzyme is used to break down proteins and what does it break down into?
A
Protease -> amino acids
17
Q
What is the function of minerals and vitamins in the body?
A
Fight infection, heal wounds, make bones stronger, boosts immune system
18
Q
What are the types of simple sugars
A
Monosaccharides and disaccharides
19
Q
What are monosaccharides
A
Used for short-term energy storage. Glucose, galactose, fructose. All 3 monosaccharides have the same formula (C6H12O6) but have different structures.
20
Q
What are polysaccharides
A
Many sugars chemically bonded together. Can be many hundreds of sugars long and known as complex carbs. Polysaccharides include starch, cellulose, glycogen.
21
Q
What is Starch
A
How plants store excess energy
22
Q
What is cellulose
A
used by many plants as a structural component (cell walls)
23
Q
What is glycogen
A
Animals use as an energy storage molecule
24
Q
What are lipids
A
Two main types are fats and oils. Used as long-term energy. Known as triglycerides. Made of 3 fatty acids and glycerol
25
What are proteins
Polymers made up of amino acids
26
What are nucleic acids
Two types of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. Are polymers, the repeating units that make them up are nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a sugar, a phosphate, and a base.
27
What organs are in the digestive system?
Salivary glands, esophagus, liver, gall bladder, small intestine (jejunum), stomach, pancreas, large intestine (colon), rectum, appendix
28
How do simple organisms obtain nutrients
Through simple diffusion, (the same way they obtain oxygen)
29
What are the two main functions of the digestive system
To break down food, to absorb the nutrients into the blood stream
30
What is an "open tube" digestive system
Food travels in one direction only, nutrients are extracted, and waste continues in the same direction until it is eliminated from the body.
31
What is mechanical digestion in the mouth
The teeth breaking down the food into smaller pieces
32
What functions does mechanical digestion serve in the mouth
Makes food small enough to pass through the rest of the system, allows for greater surface area for chemical digestion
33
What do the salivary glands do
Secrete mucus, water, and an enzyme known as salivary amylase
34
What is salivary amylase
Breaks down large starch molecules (carbohydrates_ into simple sugar molecules. Works best at a neutral pH. Appears in the salivary glands.
35
What is the esphagus
A muscular tube leading from the mouth to the stomach.
36
What is the epiglottis
A flap which closes over the trachea to prevent food from entering the lungs
37
What is peristalsis
The rhythmic contractions of muscles.
38
What is the cardiac sphincter
Found in the esophagus. A circular band of muscle that contracts to provide some involuntary control of food entering or leaving the stomach.
39
How is mechanical digestion used in the stomach
Mechanical digestion through the contraction of the 3 layers of muscles around it.
40
What is gastrin used for
Stimulates the glands of the stomach to produce their secretions. Food coming into the stomach stimulates the gastrin hormone and causes it to be released into the blood stream.
41
What is Pepsin
An enzyme that requires a low pH to be activated. In an inactive form it is added to the stomach contents (know known as chyme)
42
What is hydrochloric acid used for in the stomach
Breaks down fibrous tissue and lowers the pH so that pepsin will start working to break down proteins (into amino acids)
43
What is amylase used for in the stomach
Stops functioning in the stomach since the pH drops.
44
What is mucus used for in the stomach
Added to protect the stomach lining
45
What is the pyloric sphincter
A circular band of tissue found in the stomach. Controls movement of food into the small intestine
46
Where does the majority of chemical digestion occur
In the first part of the small intestine, known as the duodenum
47
What happens when chyme (formerly pepsin) enters the duodenum
Triggers the release of secretin, a hormone
48
What does secretin do in the small intestine
Travels to the pancreas and causes it to release sodium bicarbonate into the duct that empties into the small intestine. This increases the pH of chyme to about 8
49
What is CCK used for
Released from the duodenal cells and travels to the pancreas, causing it to release its enzymes, and the gall bladder, causing it to release bile.
50
What is bile used for
Emulsifies fat. Physical breakdown that breaks big blobs into little blobbies. Released from the gall bladder.
51
What are the accessory organs and what are they
The liver, pancreas, and gall bladder. Are essential to digestion but food doesn't pass through them.
52
What enzymes are added to chyme in the duodenum
Carbohydrases (breaks down carbohydrates), Proteases (breaks down proteins), and Lipases (breaks down lipids/fats)
53
What are the jejunum and ileum used for
Primarily used for absorption
54
How do the jejunum and ileum absorb
Contain finger-like projections called villi which increase the surface area for absorption of the digested nutrients
55
What are inside of villi and what are they used for
Capillary networks which are used for absorbing simple sugars and amino acids, and a central lacteal for absorbing fat.
56
What does the large intestine do
Absorbs water and dissolved minerals from the undigested food. Intestinal bacteria eat the waste and produce vitamins B and K as their waste product which are absorbed.
57
Where does undigested material (feces) go
Travels to the rectum for storage and then is eliminated through the anus.
58
What are the 3 components of saliva
Mucus, water, salivary amylase
59
What is water used in saliva
Moistens food so that it can easily go down the esophagus
60
What is heartburn and why does it happen
Eat too much, the cardiac sphincter can't close properly, acid goes up into the esophagus
61
What are hormones
A chemical messenger
62
What do enzymes do in the digestive system? Why are there so many of them?
Break down chemical bonds in food. So many because every enzyme has specific things they can break down. They are particular to specific substances.
63
What are acids and bases used for in the digestive system
Activate/deactivate enzymes based on location.
64
What are two main functions of the small intestine
Absorbs the nutrients of the food passing through it, chemical breakdown of macromolecules into smaller compounds that will fit into cells.
65
What is the pathway of blood through the heart
Deoxygenated blood: vena cava, right atrium, tricuspid valve, right ventricle, semilunar valve, pulmonary artery, to the lungs.
Oxygenated blood: pulmonary veins, left atrium, bicuspid valve, left ventricle, aortic semilunar valve, aorta, the rest of the body.
66
What is the atrioventricular node
Located above the ventricles. Directs electrochemical impulses through the bundle of His
67
What is the function of the bundle of His
Travel downward through the muscular walls of the ventricles and cause both ventricles to contract at the same time.
68
What are the 3 main jobs of the circulatory system
Transport of substances, protection, regulation of body temperature
69
What substances does the circulatory system transport
Nutrients (from the digestive system), gases (from the respiratory system), hormones, waste
70
How does the circulatory system protect the body
Special cells and antibodies fight bacterial and viral infections. Blood clotting, which prevents loss of blood.
71
How does the circulatory system regulate body temperature
Distributes blood appropriately to maintain a relative constant temperature
72
What are the 3 parts of the circulatory system
The heart, the blood vessels, the blood
73
What is plasma and what is it used for
Clear, yellowish fluid composed of mostly water. It also contains proteins and ions. Dissolves substances for transport (sugars, gases, waste), helps in clotting blood (a protein called fibrinogen), helps with immunity (proteins called globulins)
74
What are the 3 types of blood cells
Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
74
What are red blood cells
Oxygen transport. Are disk-shaped that have no nucleus at maturity. Contains millions of proteins called hemoglobin.
75
What is hemoglobin
Iron-containing proteins. Binds effectively with oxygen, and therefore maximizes the amount of oxygen that can be carried by the blood.
76
What are white blood cells
Help the body fight infection. Make up 1% of blood volume, however they increase in number during illness. Some are phagocytic, while others create antibodies that allow pathogens to be detected and destroyed.
77
What does phagocytic mean
"Cell eaters"
78
What are platelets
Cell fragments that form when larger cells in bone marrow break. Play a role in blood clotting.
79
What are antibodies
Proteins that white blood cells make to get rid of foreign antigens in your body
80
What are antigens
Small identifying proteins on cell membranes
81
What is the heart used for
Pumps blood through the body
82
What are blood vessels used for
Directs the blood
83
What is the blood used for
Transports oxygen, hormones, and nutrients
84
What is the septum
The muscular wall that separates the right and left halves of the heart
85
What is the largest vein in the body
The vena cava
86
What is the largest artery in the body
The aorta
87
What does the term "pulmonary" refer to (as in the pulmonary vein)
The lungs, takes blood to the lungs
88
What proportion of blood volume is plasma?
55%
89
What proportion of plasma is water? What is the remainder made of?
92% water, rest is made up of proteins and sugars
90
What is fibrinogen and its function
A protein used to clot blood
91
What are globulins and what do they do
Proteins that are a part of the immune system
92
What is the function of erythocytes
Carries oxygen
93
Which blood cells have the longest lifespan
Red blood cells, 220 days
94
Where in the body does the most blood generation occur
Bone marrow
95
What is the function of the sinoatrial node
Initiates atrial contraction
96
What are the 3 main types of blood vessels
Arteries, veins, capillaries
97
What are arteries
Carry blood away from the heart. A small artery is called an arteriole. Have thick, muscular walls so they can withstand the pressure exerted by the blood when it is pumped by the heart.
98
What are Veins
Carry blood towards the heart. Small veins are called venules. Thinner walls with valves to prevent backflow.
99
What are capillaries
Connection between the smallest arteries and veins. Found within the tissues and allow exchange of nutrients/ gases through very thin walls.
100
What is blood pressue
A measure of the force blood exerts on the arteries
101
What is systolic pressure
Pressure in the arteries when the ventricles contract
102
What is diastolic pressure
Pressure in arteries when ventricles are relaxed between beats
103
What is aerobic cellular respiration
Oxygen is used to break down sugars in order to obtain energy. It occurs in all cells to provide them with energy. This is why we breathe. Glucose + oxygen -> carbon dioxide + water + energy
104
Why do we breathe continuously
Oxygen cannot be stored by the body, so we need to breathe continuously to provide out bodies with oxygen so sugars can be broken down. At the same time, waste carbon dioxide that is produced by cells is eliminated from the body
105
Where does air travel through humans
Mouth/ nose (nasal passages), pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), trachea (wind pipe), bronchi
106
What does the nasal passage do
Filter + moisten air
107
What does the pharynx (throat) do
Common passage for food + air
108
What does the larynx (voice box) do
Protects vocal cords
109
What does the trachea (wind pipe) do
Main tube bringing air down to bronchi. It has C-shaped cartilage rings
110
What does the bronchi (singular bronchus) do
2 main tubes leading into lungs. Have O-shaped rings.
111
What do bronchioles do
Tiny branching passageways leading from the bronchi to the air sacs (alveoli)
112
What do the alveoli do
Gas exchange, (O2 into blood capillaries; CO2 out into space). Must have a moist surface and large surface area.
113
What regulates breathing
Mainly the concentration of carbon dioxide, not oxygen
114
What happens when the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood reaches a certain level
The medulla oblongata of the brain send out nerve impulses which trigger the muscles of the ribcage and the diaphragm
115
What are the mechanics of breathing
Air always flows from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure. The changing air pressure in our lungs is what causes inhalation and exhalation.
116
What is inhalation
The intercostal muscles contract, moving the rib cage up and out. The diaphragm contracts, causing it to flatten and move down. These 2 things cause the chest cavity to become larger. The air pressure in the lungs is decreased, air comes rushing in to equalize the pressure
117
How does the diaphragm look at rest and when contracted
The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle at rest, when it contracts it flattens.
118
What is exhalation
Intercostal muscles relax, causing the rib to move up and in. The diaphragm relaxes and return to its dome shape. These 2 things cause the chest cavity to become smaller. The air pressure in the lungs is increased, air is forced out.
119
How does skin respiration work
Exchange of respiratory gases through diffusion. This is done through a thin layer of keratin and capillaries in the skin
120
How do gills work
As the fish opens its mouth, water runs over the gills, and blood in the capillaries picks up oxygen that's dissolved in the water.
121
How does tracheal respiration work
When you breathe in, air travels from your nose or mouth through your larynx. It then passes through your trachea to your bronchi. Your bronchi carry the air to your lungs.
