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Biology and Psychology > Exchanging Substances > Flashcards

Exchanging Substances Flashcards

1
Q

What is the relationship between the size of an organism and its surface area to volume ratio?

A

As size increases, surface area to volume ratio decreases.

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2
Q

How is Surface Area to Volume Ratio calculated?

A

Surface area (for regular shapes: side length x side width x number of sides) divided by volume (length x width x depth)

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3
Q

What is metabolic rate and how is it usually measured?

A

Metabolic rate is the amount of energy used up by an organism within a given period of time. It is often measured by oxygen uptake because oxygen is used in aerobic respiration to make ATP for energy release.

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4
Q

What features do Unicellular Organisms have in relation to Exchanging Substances and what are the advantages and disadvantages of these features?

A

They have a large surface area to volume ratio, so they can absorb any substances required. They have a short diffusion distance between the outside of the organism to the centre of it, so they can quickly absorb substances from the environment. An advantage of this is that they can exchange materials with their environment. A disadvantage is that they lose heat energy and water quickly, so they can not survive extreme temperatures

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5
Q

What features do Multicellular Organisms have in relation to Exchanging Substances and what are the advantages and disadvantages of these features?

A

They have a small surface area to volume ratio so can not absorb enough substances through small outer surface to support large volume. They have a large diffusion distance between the outside and the centre of the organism so diffusion through outer surface is too slow to supply cells efficiently. An advantage of this is that they lose less heat energy, so can survive in cold environments. A disadvantage is that they often need internal mass transport systems in order to supply the body with vital substances.

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6
Q

State and explain the relationship between surface area to volume ratio and metabolic rate.

A

Organisms with a larger surface area to volume ratio (smaller organisms) have a higher metabolic rate as they lose heat more easily. Therefore, more energy and a higher metabolic rate is required to maintain a constant internal temperature. Per unit of body mass, metabolic rate is higher in small organisms.

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7
Q

What are the behavioural and physical adaptations that organisms in cold environments have to prevent heat loss?

A
  • Behavioural: Small mammals with a large surface area to volume ratio will lose heat easily so they need to eat high energy foods such as nuts and seeds to help maintain body temperature. They may also hibernate during winter.
  • Physical: Adapted animals will have a compact body shape, giving a smaller surface area to volume ratio. Small mammals with larger surface area to volume ratio may have thick layers of fur to insulate and reduce heat loss.
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8
Q

What are the behavioural and physical adaptations that organisms in hot environments have to prevent overheating?

A
  • Behavioural: Large organisms such as hippos spend much of the day in water to help lose heat. Some other organisms may be nocturnal so that they are only active in cold temperatures (at night).
  • Physical: Large organisms with low surface area to volume ratio often have large ears which increase their surface area allowing them to lose more heat.
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9
Q

What are the behavioural and physical adaptations that organisms in dry environments have to prevent water loss?

A
  • Behavioural: Organisms may be nocturnal so that they are most active in cooler temperatures, reducing the need for cooling by evaporative water loss (sweating), therefore conserving water.
  • Physical: Small mammals with a high surface area to volume ratio have structural kidney adaptations so that they produce less urine to conserve water.
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10
Q

What is the function of the Waxy Cuticle?

A

It is waterproof to prevent water loss by evaporation, and transparent to allow light to pass through.

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11
Q

What is the function of the Upper Epidermis?

A

It protects the leaf and is 1 cell thick to allow the light to pass through

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12
Q

What is the function of the Palisade Mesophyll?

A

It is a layer of cells containing large amounts of chloroplasts for photosynthesis.

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13
Q

What is the function of the Spongy Mesophyll?

A

It has air spaces which increases the surface area for gas exchange. The cells within the spongy mesophyll also contain lots of chloroplasts.

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14
Q

What is the function of the Xylem?

A

Transports water from the roots up the plant to the leaves.

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15
Q

What is the function of the Phloem?

A

Transports nutrients, sugars and respiratory products up and down the plant

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16
Q

What is the function of the Lower epidermis?

A

Gases enter and exit via the stoma, which opens and closes

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17
Q

Describe the role of the Stomata and how they carry out this role.

A

Stomata control how much water leaves the plant by transpiration. If there is a higher water potential outside than there is inside the cell, water will move in via osmosis, and if there is a lower water potential outside than inside , water will move via osmosis. When plants have enough water, guard cells are turgid which keeps the pores open, and when plants don’t have enough water, guard cells become flaccid causing the pores to close.

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18
Q

Draw and label a plant leaf.

A

https://biology-igcse.weebly.com/uploads/1/5/0/7/15070316/7148326.gif?565

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19
Q

Describe the pathway of air through the tracheal system of an insect

A

Air enters the trachea through pores on the surface of the exoskeleton called spiracles, which can open and close. Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen will diffuse in and out of the spiracles down the concentration gradient. The tracheae divide into smaller tubes called tracheoles which continue to divide until they branch off into individual body cells. The tracheoles are permeable to allow gas exchange

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20
Q

Explain how an insect’s tracheal system is adapted for gas exchange

A
  • Tracheoles have thin walls, so short diffusion distance to cells
  • High numbers of highly branched tracheoles, so larger surface area for gas exchange
  • Rhythmic contraction of abdominal muscles changes pressure in body, causing air to move in / out, maintaining concentration gradient for diffusion
  • Fluid in end of tracheoles drawn into tissues by
    osmosis during exercise increases rate of diffusion
  • Spiracles can open and close to maintain the concentration gradient
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21
Q

Describe ventilation in insects

A

By contracting muscles between each body segment, the insect can compress the trachea and therefore pump gases in and out of its body.

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22
Q

Describe the structure of fish gills

A

Each gill is made of lots of thin gill filaments which are attached to a bony gill arch. The gill filaments a covered in small, thin folds called lamellae, which have lots of blood capillaries and a thin layer of cells.

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23
Q

What is Counter Current flow?

A
  • Blood and water flow over the lamellae in opposite directions
  • So blood is always flowing next to water that has a higher oxygen concentration
  • So maintains a concentration gradient of oxygen between water and blood
  • For diffusion happens along whole length of lamellae
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24
Q

How are gills adapted for gas exchange?

A
  • Gills made of many filaments covered with many lamellae, increasing surface area for diffusion
  • Thin lamellae wall / epithelium, so short diffusion distance between water and blood
  • Lamellae have a large number of capillaries which remove O2 and bring CO2 quickly so maintains concentration gradient
  • Counter current flow system to maintain concentration gradient across the full length of the gill lamellae.
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25
Q

Explain how the leaves of dicotyledonous plants are adapted for gas
exchange

A

They have many stomata , resulting in a large surface area for gas exchange. The spongy mesophyll contains air spaces, allowing a large surface area for gases to diffuse through. The leaves are thin, resulting in a short diffusion distance

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26
Q

Explain structural and functional compromises in xerophytic plants that
allow efficient gas exchange while limiting water loss

A
  • Leaves are spikes and therefore have a small surface area, reducing evaporation rate
  • Sunken stomata trap water to maintain maintain humid air around the stomata to reduce the water potential gradient
  • Stomatal hairs trap water to maintain maintain humid air around the stomata to reduce the water potential gradient
  • Extensive root systems maximise water uptake. Some xerophytes have wide, shallow roots to collect rainwater, and other have deep roots to collect groundwater
  • Reduced amount of stomata, reducing the amount of places water can evaporate from
  • Thicker waxy cuticle to waterproof leaves and stem to reduce evaporation
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27
Q

Describe the gross structure of the human gas exchange system

A

The Trachea spits into Bronchi, when then split into smaller Bronchioles. At the end of each Bronchiole is an Alveolus, surrounded by a capillary network

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28
Q

Explain the essential features of the alveolar epithelium that make it
adapted as a surface for gas exchange

A
  • 1 cell thick → short diffusion distance
  • Folded → large surface area
  • Permeable → allows diffusion of gases
  • Moist → gases can dissolve for diffusion
  • Good blood supply from large network of capillaries → maintains large concentration gradient
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29
Q

Describe how gas exchange occurs in the lungs

A

Oxygen diffuses from the alveoli, across the alveolar epithelium and the capillary endothelium into blood down its concentration gradient. Carbon dioxide diffuses from the blood, across the capillary endothelium and the alveolar epithelium into the alveoli down its concentration gradient.

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30
Q

Explain the importance of ventilation

A

Brings in air containing higher concentration of oxygen and removes air with lower concentration of oxygen, maintaining concentration gradients

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31
Q

Explain how humans breathe in

A
  1. Diaphragm muscles contract and the diaphragm therefore flattens
  2. External intercostal muscles contract, and the internal intercostal muscles relax, so the ribcage is pulled up and out
  3. This increases volume and decreases pressure in thoracic cavity
  4. Air moves into lungs down pressure gradient
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32
Q

Explain how humans breathe out

A
  1. Diaphragm muscles relax and the diaphragm therefore moves upwards
  2. External intercostal muscles relax, and the internal intercostal muscles contract, so the ribcage moves down and in
  3. This decreases volume and increases pressure in thoracic cavity
  4. Air moves out of lungs down pressure gradient
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33
Q

Suggest why expiration is normally passive at rest

A

Internal intercostal muscles do not normally need to contract, and expiration is aided by elastic recoil in alveoli

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34
Q

Suggest how different lung diseases reduce the rate of gas exchange

A
  • Thickened alveolar tissue (eg. fibrosis) → increases diffusion distance
  • Alveolar wall breakdown → reduces surface area
  • Reduced lung elasticity → lungs expand / recoil less → reduces concentration gradients of O2 / CO2
35
Q

Suggest how different lung diseases affect ventilation

A
  • Some lung diseases reduce lung elasticity (eg. fibrosis which is a build-up of scar tissue) → lungs expand / recoil less. This reduces volume of air in each breath (tidal volume) and also reduces the maximum volume of air breathed out in one breath (forced vital capacity)
  • Some lung diseases narrow airways or reduce airflow in & out of lungs (e.g. asthma, which is inflamed bronchi) Therefore, reduces maximum volume of air breathed out in 1 second (forced expiratory volume)
  • Some lung diseases reduce rate of gas exchange, resulting in increased ventilation rate to compensate for reduced oxygen in blood
36
Q

Suggest why people with lung disease experience fatigue

A

Cells receive less oxygen, so the rate of aerobic respiration is reduced and less ATP made

37
Q

Explain what happens in digestion

A

Large insoluble biological molecules are hydrolysed into smaller soluble molecules that are small enough be absorbed across cell membranes into the blood

38
Q

Describe the digestion of starch in mammals

A
  • Amylase (produced by salivary glands and pancreas) hydrolyses starch into maltose
  • Membrane-bound maltase (attached to cells lining ileum) hydrolyses maltose to glucose
  • Hydrolysis of glycosidic bond
39
Q

Describe the digestion of lipids in mammals

A
  • Bile salts (produced by liver) emulsify lipids causing them to form smaller lipid droplets
  • This increases surface area of lipids for increased hydrolysis
  • Lipase (made in pancreas) hydrolyses lipids into monoglycerides and fatty acids by hydrolysing the ester bonds
40
Q

Describe the digestion of proteins by a mammal

A
  • Endopeptidases hydrolyse internal peptide bonds within the polypeptide chain. This results in the polypeptide chains being broken into shorter chains, so there are therefore more terminal ends for exopeptidases
  • Exopeptidases hydrolyse peptides bonds at the terminal ends of the polypeptide chains, releasing singular amino acids
  • Membrane bound dipeptidases hydrolyse the peptide bond between dipeptides, releasing 2 amino acids
41
Q

Why are membrane-bound enzymes are important in digestion?

A

Membrane bound enzymes are located on the cell membrane of the epithelial cells lining the ileum. By hydrolysing molecules at the site of absorption, they maintain concentration gradients for higher absorption rates

42
Q

Describe the absorption of amino acids and monosaccharides in mammals

A
  1. Sodium ions are actively transported from the epithelial cells lining ileum to blood, establishing a concentration gradient of Sodium ions, as the concentration is now higher in lumen than the epithelial cell
  2. Sodium ions enter the epithelial cell down its concentration gradient with co-transported glucose or amino acids. This occurs via a co-transporter protein. This establishes a concentration gradient of Glucose or Amino Acids, as the concentration is higher in the epithelial cell than in the blood
  3. The Glucose or Amino Acids move down the concentration gradient into blood via facilitated diffusion
43
Q

Describe the absorption of lipids by a mammal

A
  • Micelles carry bile salts, monoglycerides and fatty acids to the epithelial cells of the ilium and breakdown, allowing monoglycerides and fatty acids to diffuse across membrane because they are lipid-soluble.
  • The monoglycerides and fatty acids are transported to the Endoplasmic Reticulum where they recombine to form triglycerides again.
  • Inside the Golgi, the triglycerides bind with cholesterol and proteins to form chylomicrons.
  • Chylomicrons travel in a vesicle to the cell membrane and leave the epithelial cell via exocytosis.
  • The Chylomicrons enter lymphatic capillaries called lacteals which transport them away from the small intestine to tissues around the body, where the triglycerides can be hydrolysed and the fatty acids are used by the tissues.
44
Q

Describe the role of red blood cells and haemoglobin in oxygen transport

A
  • Red blood cells contain lots of haemoglobin, which binds with Oxygen at gas exchange surfaces where partial pressure of Oxygen is high
  • This forms oxyhaemoglobin which transports Oxygen (each haemoglobin protein can carry 4 oxygen molecules as it has 4 haem groups
  • The haemoglobin unloads the oxygen near cells and tissues where the partial pressure of oxygen is low, so that the cells and tissues can respire
45
Q

Describe the structure of haemoglobin

A

Haemoglobin is a protein with a quaternary structure. It is made up of 4 polypeptide chains, and each chain contains a Haem group containing an iron ion

46
Q

Explain how the cooperative nature of oxygen binding results in an
Sigmoid oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve

A

When each Oxygen molecule binds, the tertiary structure of the Haemoglobin changes, exposing more Haem group binding sites, meaning it is easier for Oxygen to bind to the Haemoglobin

47
Q

Describe evidence for the cooperative nature of oxygen binding

A
  • At lower partial pressures of oxygen, as oxygen increases there is a slow increase in % saturation of Haemoglobin with oxygen
  • At higher partial pressures of oxygen, as oxygen partial pressure increases, there is a faster increase in % oxygen saturation of Haemoglobin, showing it has become easier for oxygen molecules to bind
48
Q

What factors affect haemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen?

A
  • Partial pressure of Oxygen
  • Haemoglobin saturation
  • Partial pressure of Carbon Dioxide
49
Q

Explain effect of CO2 concentration on the dissociation of oxyhaemoglobin

A

An increase in blood carbon dioxide levels due to increased rate of respiration results in the formation of Carbonic Acid, lowering the pH of the blood. This changes the tertiary structure of the Haemoglobin, meaning the Oxygen is unloaded more easily at any given partial pressure of oxygen.

50
Q

Explain the advantage of the Bohr effect during exercise

A

Oxygen is unloaded more quickly, meaning that the respiring tissues have access to more oxygen so they can aerobically respire at a faster rate. Therefore, more ATP is produced.

51
Q

Explain why different types of haemoglobin can have different oxygen transport properties

A

Different types of Haemoglobin are made up of polypeptide chains with different amino acid sequences, resulting in different tertiary structures, and therefore different affinities for oxygen

52
Q

Explain how organisms can be adapted to their environment by having different types of haemoglobin with different oxygen transport properties

A
  • Left shift - Oxygen with bind with Haemoglobin at a lower partial pressure. For example, organisms in high altitude or underground environments and foetuses
  • Right shift - Oxygen will dissociate from haemoglobin more easily. For example, organisms with high metabolic rate such as small mammals with a larger SA:V ratio, so will lose heat more easily)
53
Q

What type of circulatory system do mammals have?

A

Closed double circulatory system

54
Q

Describe the general pattern of blood circulation in a mammal

A
  • Deoxygenated blood in right side of heart is pumped to the lungs, and the oxygenated blood returns to left side
  • Oxygenated blood in left side of heart pumped to rest of body and the deoxygenated blood returns to right side
55
Q

Suggest the importance of a double circulatory system

A
  • Prevents mixing of oxygenated / deoxygenated blood, so blood pumped around the body is fully saturated with oxygen for aerobic respiration
  • Blood can be pumped to body at a higher pressure, so oxygen can reach the body cells more efficiently
56
Q

Name the blood vessels entering and leaving the heart and lungs
and state their function

A
  • Vena cava – Transports deoxygenated blood from the respiring body cells to the heart
  • Pulmonary artery - Transports deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs
  • Pulmonary vein – Transports oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart
  • Aorta – Transports oxygenated blood from heart to the respiring body cells
57
Q

Which blood vessels provide the heart with oxygenated blood?

A

The coronary arteries

58
Q

Label a diagram to show the gross structure of the human heart

A

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.savemyexams.com%2Fa-level%2Fbiology%2Faqa%2F17%2Frevision-notes%2F3-exchange–transport%2F3-5-the-circulatory-system-in-animals%2F3-5-2-the-human-heart%2F&psig=AOvVaw3YuaCnpqqOGBopkT0K3fOp&ust=1718814220448000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCOj1kIjI5YYDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

59
Q

Suggest why the wall of the left ventricle is thicker than that of the right

A

The left side has thicker muscle to contract with greater force, so it can generate higher pressure to pump blood around entire body

60
Q

Explain the pressure & volume changes and associated valve movements
during the cardiac cycle that maintain a unidirectional flow of blood

A
  • Atrial systole - The atria contract, so the volume decreases, increasing the pressure. The atrioventricular valves open when the pressure in the atria exceeds the pressure in the ventricles, so the blood is pushed into the ventricles
  • Ventricular systole - The ventricles contract, so the volume decreases, increasing the pressure. The semilunar valves open when the pressure in the ventricles exceed the pressure in the arteries, so blood is pushed into the arteries
  • Diastole - The atria and ventricles relax, so the volume increases, so the pressure decreases. The semi-lunar valves shut when the pressure in the arteries exceeds the pressure in the ventricles, so the blood enters the atria.
61
Q

At what points do the cardiac valves open and close?

A
  • Semi-lunar valves close when the pressure in the artery is higher than the pressure in the ventricles
  • Semi-lunar valves open when the pressure in the ventricle is higher than the pressure in the artery
  • Atrioventricular valves close when the pressure in the ventricle is higher than the pressure in the atrium
  • Atrioventricular valves open when the pressure in the atrium is higher than the pressure in the ventricle
62
Q

What is the equation for cardiac output?

A

Cardiac output (volume of blood pumped out of heart per minute) = stroke volume (volume of blood pumped in each heart beat) x heart rate (number of beats per minute)

63
Q

How can heart rate be calculated from cardiac cycle data?

A

Heart rate (beats per minute) = 60 (seconds) / length of one cardiac cycle (seconds)

64
Q

Explain how the structure of arteries and arterioles relates to their function

A

Their function is to carry blood away from the heart at high pressures. Adaptations include:
* Thick muscular walls - can withstand high pressure, muscles can contract and relax to control blood flow
* Narrow lumen - maintains high pressure

65
Q

Explain how the structure of veins relates to their function

A

Their function is to carry blood towards the heart at lower pressures. Adaptations include:
* Wide lumen - Maintains blood flow
* Valves - To prevent backflow of blood

66
Q

Explain how the structure of capillaries relates to their function

A

Their function is to allow efficient exchange of substances between blood and tissue fluid . Adaptations include:
* Walls are one cell thick - reduces diffusion distance
* Capillary bed is a large network - increases surface area for diffusion

67
Q

Explain the formation of tissue fluid

A

At the arteriole end of capillaries, there is a higher hydrostatic pressure inside the capillaries than outside the capillaries. This forces water and dissolved substances out of the capillaries into the surrounding tissues, and large plasma proteins remain in the capillary

68
Q

Explain the return of tissue fluid to the circulatory system

A

The water potential outside the capillary is higher than the water potential inside the capillary. Therefore, water enters the capillary via osmosis down a water potential gradient. Excess fluid enters the lymphatic system to become lymph, containing lymphocytes

69
Q

Suggest and explain causes of excess tissue fluid accumulation

A
  • Low concentration of protein in blood plasma or high salt concentration will result in higher water potential, so the water potential gradient is reduced. This will mean more tissue fluid will be formed at arteriole end and less water absorbed at venule end by osmosis
  • High blood pressure will result in high hydrostatic pressure. Therefore more tissue fluid will form at arteriole end and less water will be absorbed at venule end by osmosis
70
Q

What is a risk factor, and give an example for cardiovascular disease.

A

A risk factor is an aspect of a person’s lifestyle, body or environment which has been shown to increase their likelihood of getting a certain disease. Examples for cardiovascular disease include age, salt and fat concentration in diet, smoking, lack of exercise

71
Q

What is the function of xylem tissue?

A

Transports water and mineral ions up the stem to the leaves

72
Q

How is xylem tissue adapted for its function?

A
  • Cells are joined together with no end walls, forming a long continuous tube, so water can flow as a continuous column
  • Made up of dead cells which contain no cytoplasm or nucleus, allowing for easier water flow
  • Thick walls made of lignin which provides support and allows the xylem to withstand tension
  • Pits in side walls → allow lateral flow of water
73
Q

Explain the cohesion-tension theory of water transport in the xylem

A

Water evaporates from the mesophyll due to heat from the sun (Transpiration). This results in the cells having a negative water potential, causing more water to diffuse in through osmosis. This increase in water tension pulls more water into the leaf (transpiration pull). Water molecules are cohesive due to the fact they form Hydrogen bonds, so when some are pulled into the leaf, others follow. This along with adhesion of the water molecules to the xylem pulls the whole column of water in the xylem up from the roots to the mesophyll tissue, and water enters the stem through the roots via osmosis.

74
Q

Evidence to support cohesion-tension theory

A
  • If a trunk or stem is damaged and a xylem cell is broken, water does not leak out. Once air enters, the tree can no longer draw up water because the continuous column of water has been broken
  • The trunks of trees reduce in diameter during the daytime when transpiration is at its greatest rate. This is because adhesion of water molecules to the walls of the xylem results in tension, pulling the xylem walls in.
75
Q

Name and explain the 4 factors affecting transpiration rate

A
  • Light Intensity - As light intensity increases, the rate of photosynthesis increases. This means that the stomata open to allow CO2 for photosynthesis to enter. This also results in more water being lost.
  • Temperature - As temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the water molecules increases. This results in the water evaporating at a faster rate
  • Wind intensity - As wind intensity increases, wind blows water molecules away from the stomata, increasing the water potential gradient, so water evaporates at a faster rate
  • Humidity - At higher humidity levels, there is more water in the air, so there is a lower water potential gradient between the leaf and the air, so water evaporates at a slower rate
76
Q

What is the function of the phloem?

A

Transports products of photosynthesis in plants

77
Q

How is the phloem tissue adapted to its function

A

The sieve tubes have no nucleus and very few organelles, to maximise space for easier flow of substances. The end walls between the phloem cells are perforated to allow substances to pass between the individual cells.

The companion cells contain many mitochondria, to allow a high rate of respiration to make ATP for active transport of substances

78
Q

What is translocation?

A

The movement of solutes such as sucrose from sources to sinks

79
Q

Explain the mass flow hypothesis for translocation in plants

A

At the source, sucrose is actively transported into the phloem cells by the companion cells. This lowers water potential in the phloem cells, so water enters laterally from the xylem via osmosis. This increases the hydrostatic pressure in phloem, creating a hydrostatic pressure gradient. So mass flow occurs, as the solute moves from the source to the sink. At the sink, sucrose is removed by active transport to be used by respiring cells or stored in storage organs

80
Q

How does the active loading of sucrose into the companion cell occur at the source?

A

Hydrogen ions are actively transported out of the companion cell into the cells of the source tissue using the hydrolysis of ATP. This creates a hydrogen concentration gradient across the companion cell membrane. This means that the Hydrogen ions diffuse down the gradient through co-transporters, and they bring a co-transported sucrose molecule with them. This increases the concentration of sucrose in the companion cells, so the sucrose diffuses into the phloem cell

81
Q

What evidence is there to support the mass flow hypothesis?

A

When sieve tubes are cut, sap is released. This demonstrates that the sap is under pressure within the phloem

82
Q

What evidence is there that goes against the mass flow hypothesis?

A

Sucrose travels to many different sinks and does not always travel to the one with the highest water potential first, which it should according to the mass flow hypothesis

83
Q

Describe fish ventilation

A

TBA

Biology and Psychology (8 decks)

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