Human Health And Systems Flashcards
Plasma
• Liquid part of the blood
• Pale yellow – mostly water
Function : to transport chemicals and heat
• 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
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
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 Tubes
• 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
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:
– At the wrist
– Inner arm near elbow joint
– At the sides of the neck
• A surge of blood felt at these locations is called a pulse
• The pulse rate is at the same pace as the heart rate
Two Blood Circuits
• The human circulatory system has
what is known as Double Circulation
• Blood passes through the heart twice
on its journey around the body
• It consists of two circuits:
• 1: Pulmonary Circulation
– Blood leaves the heart
– goes to the lungs to become oxygenated
– returns to the heart
• 2: Systemic Circulation
– Blood leaves the heart
– travels to other parts of the body
– returns to the heart
Structure of the Heart
• The heart is split down the
middle into two sides by the
septum
• Each side has an upper
chamber called an atrium
(plural atria)
• Each side also has a lower
chamber called a ventricle.
• This makes a total of 4
chambers
• Valves between the upper
and lower chambers ensure
that blood only flows in one
direction
Left versus Right
• Heart diagrams are
always shown as if facing
the person
• The left side of the heart
appears on the right of
the diagram, and vice
versa
• The left side of the heart always pumps oxygenated
blood (shown in red), received from the lungs, and pumps it
to the body.
• The right side always pumps deoxygenated blood (shown
in blue), received from the body, and pumps it to the lungs
Blood Vessels of The Heart
• The vena cava (veins)
bring blood from the body
into the right atrium.
• The right ventricle pumps
blood into the pulmonary
artery, which leads to the
lungs.
• The pulmonary vein returns blood from the lungs to the
left atrium.
• The left ventricle pumps blood into the aorta (an artery)
which leads to all other parts of the body.
• Both the pulmonary artery and the aorta have valves at the
base to prevent blood flowing back into the heart.
Ingredients for energy
• The process that
releases energy from
this food is
RESPIRATION
