Lifestyle, Health and Risk

Question 1

What is the purpose of a mass transport system in larger organisms?

Answer 1

A mass transport system, consisting of the heart and circulatory system, moves essential substances around the body and allows for efficient exchange of substances.

Question 2

What is the significance of waist-to-hip ratio in determining the likelihood of heart disease?

Answer 2

Waist-to-hip ratio can be used to assess the risk of heart disease based on the distribution of fat in the body. A value above 1 suggests a health risk.

Question 3

How does water’s polarity contribute to its role in transporting biological molecules?

Answer 3

Water is a polar solvent that can dissolve many biological molecules because they are also polar. This enables effective transport of these molecules in living systems.

Question 4

What are carbohydrates composed of?

Answer 4

Carbohydrates consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. They are long chains of sugar units called saccharides.

Question 5

What are the features of a mass transport system?

Answer 5

A mass transport system includes a network of vessels to move through, a medium for movement (such as blood), controlled direction of flow, and maintenance of speed.

Question 6

What are the three types of saccharides?

Answer 6

The three types of saccharides are monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Question 7

How does diffusion alone meet the needs of small organisms?

Answer 7

Small organisms can rely on diffusion alone due to their large surface area to volume ratio, which allows for sufficient exchange of gases and other substances.

Question 8

How do monosaccharides join together to form disaccharides and polysaccharides?

Answer 8

Monosaccharides can join together to form disaccharides and polysaccharides through glycosidic bonds, which are formed in condensation reactions.

Question 9

What is the role of hydrogen bonding in water’s transport properties?

Answer 9

Hydrogen bonding between water molecules creates cohesion and adhesion, enabling effective transport of water and dissolved substances through xylem vessels. It also contributes to water’s high heat capacity, which helps regulate temperature in living things.

Question 10

What is the main function of glycogen in animals?

Answer 10

Glycogen is the main energy storage molecule in animals. It is formed from many molecules of alpha glucose joined together by 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds.

Question 11

How does atherosclerosis contribute to cardiovascular diseases?

Answer 11

Atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries due to plaque buildup, can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as angina, stroke, myocardial infarction, and aneurysms.

Question 12

What are lipids and what are their properties?

Answer 12

Lipids are biological molecules that are only soluble in organic solvents such as alcohols. They have various properties including being waterproof, compact, and providing thermal insulation.

Question 13

What are the risk factors for developing atherosclerosis?

Answer 13

The risk factors for developing atherosclerosis include genetics, age, diet, gender, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and physical inactivity.

Question 14

How does blood clotting prevent blood loss and aid in repair?

Answer 14

Blood clotting, also known as thrombosis, prevents blood loss when a blood vessel is damaged and provides a framework for repair. It involves a series of reactions that lead to the formation of a blood clot.

Question 15

What are triglycerides and how are they used in cells?

Answer 15

Triglycerides are lipids made of one molecule of glycerol and three fatty acids joined by ester bonds. They are used as energy reserves in plant and animal cells.

Question 16

What is energy balance and how does it affect weight?

Answer 16

Energy balance refers to the balance between calories consumed through eating and drinking compared to calories burned through physical activity. If more calories are burned than consumed, it leads to weight loss, while consuming more calories than burned leads to weight gain.

Question 17

What are phospholipids and what is their role in cell membranes?

Answer 17

Phospholipids are lipids with one of the fatty acids of a triglyceride substituted by a phosphate-containing group. They form a bilayer in the cell membrane, with hydrophilic heads facing watery environments and hydrophobic tails moving away from them.

Question 18

How can an individual determine their weight status?

Answer 18

One way to determine weight status is by calculating the body mass index (BMI), which is obtained by dividing body mass in kilograms by height in meters squared. The resulting value is then compared to a chart, with values below 18 indicating underweight and values above 30 indicating obesity.

Question 19

What are high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL)?

Answer 19

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is formed from unsaturated fats, protein, and cholesterol. It transports cholesterol from body tissues to the liver where it’s broken down. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is formed from saturated fats, protein, and cholesterol. It transports cholesterol from the liver to the blood, increasing cholesterol levels and the risk of atherosclerosis.

Question 20

What are some medical treatments for cardiovascular diseases?

Answer 20

Medical treatments for cardiovascular diseases include anticoagulants, statins, platelet inhibitors, and antihypertensives.

Question 21

What is the purpose of arteries, veins, and capillaries in the circulatory system?

Answer 21

Arteries carry oxygenated blood to the body tissues, have a small lumen to maintain high blood pressure, and contain smooth muscle and elastic fibers. Veins carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs, have a larger lumen to minimize resistance, and contain thinner muscle and elastic fibers. Capillaries are very small vessels that allow for exchange of substances between cells.

Question 22

How do anticoagulants reduce the risk of clot formation?

Answer 22

Anticoagulants reduce the risk of clot formation by inhibiting the coagulation process.

Question 23

What is the role of statins in reducing blood cholesterol levels?

Answer 23

Statins reduce blood cholesterol levels by blocking the enzyme that produces cholesterol in the liver.

Question 24

What are the stages of the cardiac cycle?

Answer 24

The cardiac cycle consists of three stages: atrial systole, ventricular systole, and cardiac diastole. During atrial systole, the atria contract, forcing the atrioventricular valves open and allowing blood to flow into the ventricles. During ventricular systole, the ventricles contract, causing the atrioventricular valves to close and the semilunar valves to open, allowing blood to leave the ventricles. During cardiac diastole, both the atria and ventricles relax, and the pressure inside the heart chambers decreases, causing the semilunar valves in the aorta and pulmonary arteries to close.

Question 25

How do platelet inhibitors work to reduce the risk of blood clots?

Answer 25

Platelet inhibitors make platelets less sticky, reducing the risk of blood clots and atheroma formation.

Question 26

What are some side effects and risks associated with antihypertensives?

Answer 26

Some side effects and risks of antihypertensives include nausea, muscle cramps, dizziness, and potential interactions with other medications.

Question 27

How does atherosclerosis develop and what are its modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors?

Answer 27

Atherosclerosis develops due to the build-up of fibrous plaque called an atheroma in the arteries. Its risk factors include genetics, age, diet, gender, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and physical inactivity. Some risk factors can be modified, such as diet and smoking, while others, like genetics and age, cannot be changed.

Question 28

What is the purpose of blood clotting and what are the steps involved in clot formation?

Answer 28

Blood clotting, also known as thrombosis, prevents blood loss when a blood vessel is damaged and provides a framework for repair. The process involves platelet attachment to exposed collagen fibers, release of thromboplastin triggering the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, and the conversion of fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin, which forms a network of fibers that trap platelets and red blood cells.

Question 29

How does energy balance affect weight and what factors can influence it?

Answer 29

Energy balance, which refers to the balance between calories consumed and calories burned, affects weight. Consuming more calories than burned leads to weight gain, while burning more calories than consumed leads to weight loss. Factors that can influence energy balance include genetics, age, diet, gender, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and physical inactivity.