Key area 2.6 - Transport systems - animals Flashcards
What’s the circulatory system made of ?
Heart
Blood vessels
Blood
What’s blood made up of ?
Plasma
Red blood cells
White blood cells
Red Blood cells
Oxygen is carried by them by binding with haemoglobin to create oxyhaemoglobin
They have a biconcave shape to increase surface area
They have no nucleus to contain more haemoglobin to carry more oxygen
Allows oxygen transportation to be more efficient
White blood cells
Pathogens are disease causing organisms such as bacteria and viruses
White blood cells fight against them and destroy them as part of the immune system
Two main types are
Phagocytes
Lymphocytes
Phagocytes
They engulf pathogens when carrying out phagocytosis
This destroys the pathogen by digesting it with enzymes
They’re not specific to any particular pathogen
Lymphocytes
They produce antibodies which destroy pathogens
Each antibody is specific to a particular pathogen
Describe the functions of the heart
The right hand side of the heart pumps deoxygenated blood
The left side pumps oxygenated blood
The left ventricle is thicker as it has to pump blood all round the body
The right ventricle only has to pump blood to the lungs
Coronary arteries
The heart muscle needs a constant supply of blood to provide its cells with glucose and oxygen needed for aerobic respiration to produce ATP
The heart muscle is supplied with blood by the coronary arteries, they are the ones that get blocked when a heart attack happens
Describe the function and structure of an artery
Function
Carry blood away from the heart
Structure
Thick muscular walls
Narrow central channel
Carry blood under high pressure away from the heart
Describe the function and structure of a vein
Function
Carries blood into the heart
Structure
Thinner muscular walls
Wider channel
Carry blood under lower pressure towards the heart
Contains valves to prevent backflow of blood
Describe the function and structure of a capillary
Function
Connect arteries and veins
Structure
Thin walls
Large surface area forming networks at tissues and organs to allow sufficient exchange of materials
