Coordinated Body Systems Flashcards
What is metabolism?
Metabolism is chemical reactions that occur within an organism cell; all chemical reactions involved in maintaining the living state of cells and the organism.
What is an anabolic reaction? Provide an example.
Anabolic reactions are those that build up complex molecules from simpler substances. For example, increases in muscle mass.
What is a catabolic reaction? Provide an example.
Catabolic reactions are those that break down organic matter. For example, amylase breaking down starch into simple sugars.
What is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a protein that can speed up reactions.
Why are enzymes important?
Without enzymes, chemical reactions would occur too slowly to maintain life.
Describe the lock and key model of enzyme activity.
The lock and key model displays the general action of enzymes attaching to specific molecules. Only one key (substrate) can fit into a specific lock (enzyme).
What is a substrate?
A substrate is what the enzyme locks onto. It is the substance that is either broken down or built up.
What is an active site?
The part of the enzyme that fits together with the substrate.
What is diffusion?
Diffusion is the movement of a substance in fluid from a region of high concentration towards regions of lower concentrations.
How does diffusion allow nutrients to be absorbed in the small intestine?
Substances such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids diffuse through the semipermeable intestine into the blood stream.
List 4 functions of the liver in the removal of wastes from the body
- Breaks down hormones
- Breaks down hemoglobin from dead red blood cells to form products that are added in bile and discarded through the digestive system
- Converts ammonia to urea
- Breaks down or modifies toxins or most medicines- toxins can cause permanent damage to the liver if there is an excess
How are body systems interdependent?
Each of the body systems are interdependent, meaning that each system within the body depends on another so that they can function.
How does diffusion allow gas exchange to occur in the alveoli?
Gasses such as oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse through the alveoli from the blood stream to the lungs or vice versa. So that oxygen can enter the bloodstream and circulate the body, becoming carbon dioxide which is then exhaled.
