chapter 6 - transport in humans Flashcards
heart
muscle that pumps blood to different parts of the body
arteries
blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart
- transports oxygenated blood (except pulmonary arteries) from the heart to other parts of the body
- walls are thick, muscular and elastic to withstand the high blood pressure of blood flowing within
- the elasticity helps the artery wall to stretch and recoil to push blood forward.
- contraction and relaxation of the arterial walls to divert blood to certain organs at certain times (vasodilation and vasoconstriction during thermoregulation)
veins
blood vessels that carry blood to the heart
- transports deoxygenated blood back to the heart
- blood that is the vein has lower pressure and speed, thus blood tends to backflow. veins therefore have valves to prevent backflow of blood
- walls are generally thinner than that of the arteries and blood flows more smoothly and slowly
blood capillaries
microscopic blood vessels that arise from branches of the arterioles
- large surface area - numerous branches of capillaries
- short diffusion distance - walls of capillaries is one cell thick
- short concentration gradient - continuous blood flow through the capillaries
differences between arteries and veins
- both have muscular and elastic tissue
- both have one cell thick endothelium
- arteries have thicker muscular tissue while vein have thinner, less muscular tissue.
- arteries have more elastic tissue while veins have less elastic tissue
- arteries have narrow lumen while veins have wide lumen
- arteries have no valves while veins have valves
tissue fluid
colourless liquid that fills the spaces between cells in tissues. transports dissolved substances between blood capillaries and tissues cells. plasma proteins, RBC, platelets remain in blood plasma while smaller molecules like glucose, oxygen, AA, urea, carbon dioxide and white blood cells diffuse out.
red blood cells
- transport oxygen to rest of body
- circular and biconcave shape to increase surface area to volume ratio for faster rate of diffusion of oxygen
- contains oxygen that binds with oxygen o form oxyhemoglobin for transport of oxygen
- lacks nucleus for more space to store and transport more oxygen
- flexible an can change shape to squeeze through narrow capillaries easily.
plasma
- transports blood cells, ions, soluble food substances, hormones, carbon dioxide, urea, vitamins, plasma, proteins (fibrinogen, antibodies, and prothrombin)
- carries hormones to target organs
- made up of mostly water as a solvent for various substances
white blood cells
lymphocytes : produces antibodies in response to toxins or foreign particles in blood. antibodies will recognise, attach to and destroy pathogens by rupturing bacterial surface membrane. this causes pathogens to agglutinate for easy engulfing and ingestion by phagocytes. they can also neutralise toxins produced by bacteria
phagocytes : engulf and ingest foreign particles like bacteria, where this process is known as phagocytosis
platelets
contains an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of soluble fibrinogen to insoluble fibrinogen thread. fibrin threads entangles with red blood cells to form blood lots that seal wounds
blood clotting process
damaged tissues and platelets produced an enzyme known as thrombokinase . thrombokinase catalyses the conversion of inactive prothrombin to active thrombin in the presence of calcium ions. thrombin catalyses the conversion of soluble fibrin to insoluble fibrin threads, that entangles RBCs and forms a clot, sealing the wound and prevents excessive loss of blood and entry of bacteria
agglutination
antibodies are found in plasma, produced by the white blood cells
antigens provoke an immune response involving antibodies
certain antibodies react with certain antigens, causing agglutination which could be fatal as it blocks blood vessels and prevents blood forming flowing
antibodies and antigens of different blood types
A : anti-B + A antigen
B : anti-A + B antigen
O : anti-A and anti B + no antigens
AB : no antibodies + A and B antigens
when checking, compare donor’s antigens and recipients antibodies
ventricles vs atrium muscles
ventricles have thicker muscular walls than atria, atria only forces blood into the ventricles, and less force and pressure is needed due to the shorter distance. ventricles have to force blood out of heart to the other parts of the body, thus higher force and pressure is needed
coronary arteries
transport oxygenated blood containing glucose from the heart muscles for respiration to release energy