Module 5 Flashcards
The Need for Communication Systems
Keeping Cells Active • All organisms needs to maintain a limited set of conditions • Need to respond to changes in external and internal environments • This is because cellular activities rely on enzymes which require a specific set of conditions to work effectively • Organs need to coordinate their activity to maintain optimal internal conditions that support survival
2 Cell Signalling
When cells communicate by signalling, one cell releases a chemical • This chemical is detected by another cell • The second cell then responds to this signal. can be neuronal or hormondal
Neuronal System of cell signalling
• Network of neurons • Quick signals • Rapid responses
Hormonal System of cell signalling
• Uses blood to transport signals • Endocrine organs secrete hormones directly into blood • Carried all over the body • Only recognized by specific target cells • Enables long-term responses to be coordinated • Specific target cells have receptors that have a shape that is complementary to the shape of the hormone
Homeostasis
is the regulation of internal environments independently of external environments These include: • Temperature • Blood glucose concentration • Blood salt concentration • Water content • Blood pressure • Blood carbon dioxide partial pressure (blood pH)
Negative Feedback
• Reversal of a change in the environment to return to the optimum position • Receptor detects the change • Communication systems inform the effectors • The effector reacts to reverse the change • Eg: maintaining blood pressure
Positive Feedback
• Response causes change to increase • Destabilizes the system • Usually more harmful • Does not lead to homeostasis • Can be useful in certain situation • Eg: childbirth - uterine contractions • Pathway:
○ A stimulus
is any change in the environment that causes a response
○ A response
is a change in behavior or physiology as a result of a change in the environment
External Environment
○ Environment may change slowly – E.g. — Global Warming ○ It may change quickly ○ The changes must be monitored and the organism must respond to them
Internal Environments
Some cells are not exposed to the external environment, but are protected by epithelial tissues ○ As cells undergo metabolic reactions there is a change in the environment ○ Activities of the cells alter their own environments in this way
Endotherms
• Can maintain body temperature within strict limits • Independent of external temperatures • Internal sources of heat used to maintain body temperatures • Can increase respiration rates to generate heat
advantages of being an endotherm
○ Constant body temperature regardless of external environment ○ Activity possible in cooler temperatures ○ Able to inhabit cooler parts of the world
disadvantages of being an endotherm
• There are also disadvantages: ○ Significant part of energy intake used to maintain body temperature ○ Moor food required ○ Less energy from food can be used for growth
Physiological adaptations of endotherms
: ○ Sweat glands in skin ○ Hairs on skin ○ Capillaries near skin surface
endotherms in Hot environment
Sweat glands Secrete sweat - water has high specific heat capacity, therefore heat escapes body and converted into evaporation of sweat
Blood capillaries under surface of skinCapillaries dilate to increase surface area - heat from blood transferred out of the body and through the skin more efficiently
Erector muscles controlling hairs on skin
Relax so hair is flat against skin - air can freely circulate over the skin, cooling it down
endotherms in Cold environment
Sweat glands Sweat glands inactive
Blood capillaries under surface of skinCapillaries close to reduce heat lost through the skin
Erector muscles controlling hairs on skin Contract so hair stands on end - this serves to trap air over the skin which acts as a layer of insulation
Ectotherms
• Organism that relies on an external source of heat to regulate its body temperature
ectotherm advantages:
○ Less food used in respiration ○ Less food required ○ Greater proportion of energy derived from food can be used for growth
ectotherm disadvantages:
○ Less active in cooler temperatures ○ May not be capable of activity during cold winters
Physiological adaptations of ectotherms
○ Do not use internal energy source to maintain body temperature ○ When they are active, increased respiration in muscles will generate some heat ○ Temperature regulation relies on increasing the exchange of heat with their environment – When cold, they will change behavior to increase absorption of heat fro its environment – When hot it will increase heat loss to the environment ○ Warm-up by lying on a hot surface
Excretion =
the removal of metabolic waste products from the body
Metabolic waste =
Unneeded byproducts produced as a result of normal metabolism. These need to be removed from the body as they can become toxic in large quantities.
Carbon Dioxide as a metabolic waste compound
• Excess carbon dioxide is toxic • High levels of carbon dioxide have many effects: ○ Reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells ○ Combines with haemoglobin to form carbaminohaemaglobin, which has a lower affinity for oxygen ○ Dissolve the blood plasma, causing respiratory acidosis