Human Biology Flashcards
What is respiration?
Cellular respiration is a series of chemical reactions that break down glucose to produce ATP, which may be used as energy to power many reactions throughout the body.
What type of chemical reaction is respiration?
Exothermic reaction
Describe the features of Aerobic respiration.
Include equation, where does it take place etc;
Aerobic respiration takes place in the mitochondria. It takes place in the presence of oxygen.
Glucose + Oxygen > Carbon dioxide + water (+ energy)
C6H12O6+ 6O2 > 6C02 + 6H20(+ energy)
Describe the features of anaerobic respiration.
Anaerobic respiration takes place in the absence of oxygen. It happens when there is not enough oxygen for aerobic respiration. This is a short term energy supply.
State the formula for anaerobic respiration in animals. Also, state where it happens
Glucose > Lactic acid + energy.
It happens in the muscle fibers.
State the formula for anaerobic respiration in plants.
known as fermentation
forms ethanol and carbon-dioxide
Glucose -> Ethanol+Carbon Dioxide.
Why are the alveoli suitable for gas exchange?
Made up of just one layer of very thin cells which creates a really short diffusion pathway which increases the rate that carbon dioxide and oxygen can diffuse across
Has a very large surface area to allow gas exchange to take place
walls are moist which allow the gases to dissolve, increasing the rate of diffusion
Describe how gas exchange works.
The walls of the alveoli share a membrane with the capillaries. The blood in the capillaries returns to the lungs with deoxygenated blood as it has just passed around the body. THe haemoglobin within the red blood cells has given up lots of its oxygen to the tissues so it won’t have much left, creating the perfect concentration gradient.
The oxygen in the alveoli can diffuse down that gradient into the blood. Thus, creating oxygenated blood.
The remaining carbon dioxide in the capillary will be a higher concentration in the blood than the alveoli so it can easily diffuse across. Now, once in the alveoli, we can just breathe it out. This is a repetitive process.
What is blood made up of
plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets
What is the function of plasma?
The function of plasma is to take nutrients, hormones and proteins to the parts of the body that need it. Cells also put their waste products into the plasma.
What is the function of red blood cells?
2) What part(s) of a cell is contained in red blood cell?
The function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen from the lungs and deliver it to other parts of the body. Red blood cells also transport waste such as carbon dioxide back to our lungs to be exhaled, involved in gas exchange.
Contains only cytoplasm, no nucleus
State the two types of white blood cells
Phagocytes
Lymphocytes
What is the function of phagocytes?
2) What part(s) of a cell is contained in phagocytes?
Phagocytes are cells that protect the body by ingesting harmful foreign particles such as bacteria and dying cells.
cytoplasm and nucleus
What is the function of lymphocytes?
2) What part(s) of a cell is contained in lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes are responsible for antibody production, direct cell-mediated killing of virus-infected and tumor cells.
cytoplasm and nucleus
What is the function of the platelet?
The primary function of platelets is to prevent and stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is damaged, the body sends signals to the platelets which cause them to travel to the injured area. Once the platelets arrive, they clump together to form a clot that helps stop bleeding.
What part of the heart does the blood leave from
The aorta
What carries blood FROM the heart TO the tissues
Arteries
What carries blood TO the heart FROM the tissues
Veins
How are capillaries involved in blood flow?
Capillaries have thin walls that allow oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide and waste products to pass through, to and from the tissue cells. Veins then carry the blood back to your heart, repeating the process.
What is the function of arteries?
These strong, muscular blood vessels carry oxygenated blood from your heart to your body. They handle a large amount of force and pressure from your blood flow.
What is the function of veins?
Veins don’t carry high pressurized blood, but they do have to carry large volumes of DEOXYGENATED blood back to your heart. Thin, less elastic walls help handle high volumes and low pressure. Most veins have valves that open and close. These control blood flow and ensure blood flows in one direction.
What is the function of capillaries?
These tiny blood vessels have thin walls so oxygen and nutrients from the blood can move through the walls and tissues. Capillaries are where oxygen and nutrients are exchanged for carbon dioxide and waste.
Describe the function of ribs(in thorax)
A bone structure that protects internal organs including the Lungs
Describe the function of intercostal muscles
Muscles between the Ribs that move the ribcage during inhalation and exhalation
Describe the function of the Diaphragm
A sheet of muscle at the bottom of the Thorax that changes the thoracic volume during inhalation and exhalation
Describe the function of the Trachea
Windpipe that connects the Mouth and Nose to the Lungs
Describe the function of the Bronchi
Thick tubes that divide into two Bronchi inside the Lungs - one Bronchus for each Lung
Describe the function of Bronchioles
Bronchi will split to form thinner tubes called Bronchioles that are connected to Alveoli
Describe the function of Alveoli
Tiny air sacs where gas exchange occurs.
Describe the function of the pleural membrane
The thin, moist membrane lining the outside of Lungs for lubrication to reduce friction, sticks outside of the Lungs to the chest cavity for the Lungs to follow chest movement
How do intercostal muscles contribute to inhalation?
syllabus statement 2.47
The external intercostal muscles first contract, pulling the rib cage upwards and outwards.
The internal intercostal muscles relax and are pulled back to their elongated state.
The diaphragm contracts and flattens, pushing the abdomen walls outwards.
As a result, thoracic volume increases, causing pressure to decrease
A decrease in pressure causes air to be drawn into the lungs through inhalation.
How do intercostal muscles contribute to exhalation?
syllabus statement 2.47
External intercostal muscles relax and are pulled back to their elongated state
Internal intercostal muscles contract, pulling the rib cage downwards and inwards
The diaphragm relaxes and forms a dome shape
As a result, thoracic volume decreases, causing pressure to increase
An increase in pressure causes air to be forced out of the lungs - exhalation
State the effects on the air passages if someone smokes
syllabus statement 2.49
Tar in cigarettes destroy the Cilia therefore causing the buildup of Mucus and increasing the risk of Bronchitis
Tar in cigarettes contain carcinogens that increase risk of Lung Cancer
State the effects on the alveoli if someone smokes
syllabus statement 2.49
Tar in cigarettes break down Alveoli walls and causes them to merge together, decreasing the surface area to volume ratio for gas exchange
Insufficient gas exchange will increase the risk of Emphysema - shortness of breath due to insufficient Oxygen transport in blood
State the effects on the circulatory system if someone smokes
syllabus statement 2.49
Nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to narrow, placing strain on circulatory system and results in the increase in blood pressure
Narrowing of blood vessels also causes the build-up of Fat globules, increasing risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
CHD involves the blockage of Coronary Artery by Fat globules (forming plaques), causing insufficient Oxygen transport in blood leading to increased anaerobic respiration (due to lack of Oxygen)
Increase in anaerobic respiration causes build-up of Lactic acid which creates acidic environment for enzymes to denature, hence causing strokes
Carbon Monoxide from cigarette smoking will bind irreversibly to Haemoglobin, reducing capacity of Oxygen transport by Red blood cells and hence increases the risk of Emphysema - shortness of breath due to insufficient Oxygen transport in blood
why simple, unicellular organisms can rely on diffusion for movement of substances in and out of the cell
syllabus statement 2.51
As Unicellular organisms are composed of a single cell, they have a larger surface area in relation to their volume, and hence have a large surface area to volume ratio
With a large surface area to volume ratio, Unicellular organisms therefore have efficient rate of diffusion, allowing cell to rely solely on diffusion to transport necessary substances in and out of the cell
Why do multicellular organisms need for a transport system?
syllabus statement 2.52
Multicellular organisms rely on transport systems to provide a constant supply of necessary substances through a medium to their cells via an exchange surface