Human Health And Systems Flashcards
Ingestion and eating
Food is taken in by the body
Digestion
Food is broken down
Absorption
Digested food passes into the blood
Physical digestion
Mouth (teeth)
Stomach (churning)
Chemical digestion
Uses enzymes
Enzymes at on a substrate
Ex - substrate = starch , enzymes = amylase (saliva), product = maltose (sugar)
- Amylase in mouth
- Enzymes in the stomach
- Most chemical digestion happens in small intestine
Plasma
- liquid part if blood
- pale yellow - mostly water
Function : to transport chemicals and heat
- chemicals (useful) : food , hormones
- chemicals (waste) : CO2, salts , urea
- heat : generated from chemical reactions, transport around to maintain 37c
* also carries the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Red blood cells
• Round, flattened discs, curve inward near centre
• Small, no nucleus, formed in bone marrow
• Very numerous – approx 5million per drop blood
• Function : transport oxygen to cells
• Red colour comes from haemoglobin
they contain.
• Haemoglobin picks up oxygen in the lungs
• It later releases it in other parts - e.g.
muscle
White blood cells
• Larger than Red Blood Cells but fewer in number
• No definite shape – shape can change
• They are also made in the bone marrow
• Function : to fight infection
• Some can surround micro-organisms and destroy them
• Others produce proteins called antibodies
• Antibodies help to destroy micro-organisms such as bacteria
Platelets
• Smaller than red or white blood cells
• They are formed in the bone marrow
• They are formed from larger cells breaking down into pieces
• Function: help to form blood clots
• When a blood vessel is injured, platelets help to form a clot
• Clotting prevents loss of blood, and prevents micro- organisms getting in
• Clots are temporary barriers while repair and healing is taking place
System of tubs and pump
• Blood being a fluid, needs tubes in which to flow
• These tubes are called blood vessels
• They come in three main types:
– Arteries
– Veins
– Capillaries
• Good blood flow requires the aid of a good pump
• In the human circulatory system this pump is the heart
• In an average lifetime, the heart beats more than 2.5 billion times, without ever pausing to rest
Arteries
• Carry blood AWAY from the heart
• Flow of blood is strong and at high pressure
• Artery walls are thick and strong to withstand this pressure
• Blood is under pressure – forced to move in one direction
• There is no need for valves in arteries to prevent backwards flow
• All arteries (except pulmonary artery) carry oxygenated blood
Veins
• Carry blood BACK to the heart
• Flow of blood is weaker and pressure is low
• Vein walls are thinner and weaker than artery walls
• Pressure is low, so there is a danger of backward flow of blood, especially when flow direction is against gravity
• Valves in veins at regular intervals, allow blood to flow forwards, but prevent reverse flow
• All veins (except pulmonary vein) carry deoxygenated blood
Capillaries
• These are tiny blood vessels
• There are a huge number of them in the body
• Capillaries are found between arteries and veins
• Capillaries have very thin walls which allow materials to pass in and out with the surrounding cells and tissue.
The heart
• Is an organ about the size of a clenched fist
• Function: pumps blood around the body
• It pumps blood by contracting periodically
• Cardiac muscle provides the contraction
• Unlike regular muscle, cardiac muscle doesn’t tire easily
• Resting heart rate in adults is about 72 bpm(beats per minute)
• In exercise, the heart beats faster, so that the blood can carry chemicals faster around the body e.g. Oxygen
Pulse rates
• When the heart contracts, it squeezes blood into the arteries under pressure.
• As blood flows down the arteries, surges of pressure can be felt where the arteries are close to the surface
• Areas where it can be felt are:
– Atthewrist
– Innerarmnearelbowjoint – Atthesidesoftheneck
• A surge of blood felt at these locations is called a pulse
• The pulse rate is at the same pace as the heart rate
