Multicellular Organisms: Animal Transport Systems

Question 1

What are the 4 components of blood?

Answer 1

Red blood cells
White blood cells
Plasma
Platelets

Question 2

What is the main function of red blood cells?

Answer 2

Carry oxygen.

Question 3

What is the function of white blood cells?

Answer 3

Involved in defence against pathogens.

Question 4

What is the function of plasma?

Answer 4

Carry dissolved nutrients and carbon dioxide.

Question 5

What is the structure of a red blood cell?

Answer 5

Small + flexible

Filled with red pigment haemoglobin

No nucleus: allows for more haemoglobin and therefore, more oxygen.

Bio-concave shape: to increase surface area for increased oxygen-carrying.

Question 6

When does haemoglobin combine with oxygen to produce oxyhaemoglobin?

Answer 6

When oxygen concentration of surrounding cells are high.

Question 7

When does oxyhaemoglobin dissociate to become oxygen + haemoglobin?

Answer 7

When oxygen concentration of surrounding cells are low.

Question 8

What is the chemical equation of (dis)association of oxyhaemoglobin?

Answer 8

Haemoglobin + Oxygen ⇌ Oxyhaemoglobin.

NOTE: associates in lungs, disassociates in tissues.

NOTE: Oxyhaemoglobin is taken to body cells.

Question 9

What are the 2 types of white blood cells?

Answer 9

Phagocytes and Lymphocytes.

Question 10

What is a pathogen?

Answer 10

A disease-causing organism.

Question 11

What is the function of phagocytes?

Answer 11

Engulfs pathogens and digests them using enzymes.

Question 12

What is the function of lymphocytes?

Answer 12

Produces specific antibodies to bind the pathogen, helping immune system to destroy it.

Question 13

After being exposed to a certain pathogen once, how does the second response differ to the first one?

Answer 13

Faster antibody production

Higher concentration of antibody production.

Higher antibody concentration for longer

Question 14

What are the names of the four heart chambers?

Answer 14

Right atrium, right ventricle, left ventricle, left atrium

Question 15

What is the function of arteries?

Answer 15

Carries blood away from the heart to body organs + tissues.

Question 16

What’s the function of veins?

Answer 16

Carries blood from organs + body tissues to the heart.

Question 17

What is the function of capillaries?

Answer 17

Exchanges materials between the blood and body cells.

Question 18

What is the structure of arteries?

Answer 18

Thick muscular walls

They don’t contain valves.

Narrow central channel.

Question 19

What are the features and functions of capillaries?

Answer 19

Thin walls: faster absorption + removal of substances.

Large surface area, maximising the exchange of materials at the cellular level

Extensive blood supply: allows absorption of more materials

Question 20

What is the advantage of having thin alveolar walls?

Answer 20

Fast diffusion of gases from blood to alveoli and vice versa

Question 21

What is the structure of veins?

Answer 21

Wider central channel (than arteries)

Blood carried at low pressure, which is why veins have valves to prevent backflow of blood.

Thinner muscular wall (than arteries)

Question 22

What is the advantage of having large surface areas in alveoli?

Answer 22

Allows for maximum absorption of oxygen

Question 23

What is the advantage of having a dense capillary network in alveoli?

Answer 23

Maximum diffusion of gases

Question 24

Usually, veins carry deoxygenated blood. Why is the pulmonary vein an exception?

Answer 24

The blood that is carried by it, has already been to the lungs for oxygenation.

Question 25

What is the definition of digestion?

Answer 25

Breakdown of large insoluble molecules to smaller soluble molecules for absorption through the small intestine

Question 26

Usually, arteries carry oxygenated blood. Why is the pulmonary artery an exception?

Answer 26

The blood carried by it, has not entered the lungs for oxygenation.

Question 27

What is the function of thin walls in the villus?

Answer 27

Fast diffusion of nutrients

Question 28

Describe the pathway of blood through the heart and associated structures.

Answer 28

vena cava → right atrium → right ventricle → pulmonary artery → LUNGS (oxygenation) →

pulmonary vein → left atrium → left ventricle → aorta → BODY

Question 29

What is the function of the small intestine?

Answer 29

• Designed for maximum absorption and quick transport of absorbed food molecules
• Long, folded and contains villi which increase surface area
• Large blood supply and vessels leading to the lymphatic system

Question 30

What is the function of the dense capillary network in the villus?

Answer 30

Transports glucose and amino acids

Question 31

What is the function of the lacteal in the villus?

Answer 31

Absorbs fatty acids and glycerol

Question 32

What are carbohydrates broken down into and what part of the villus absorbs it?

Answer 32

• Broken down to glucose
• Absorbed by capillaries

Question 33

What are fats broken down into and what part of the villus absorbs it?

Answer 33

• Broken down to fatty acids + glycerol
• Absorbed by lacteal

Question 34

What are proteins broken down into and what part of the villus absorbs it?

Answer 34

• Broken down to amino acids
• Absorbed by capillaries

Question 35

Describe the process of gas exchange in alveoli.

Answer 35

Blood arrives in the lungs deoxygenated. The air breathed into the alveolus contains a high level of oxygen.

So, oxygen diffuses from a higher concentration in the alveolus to a lower concentration in the blood.

Deoxygenated blood contains higher levels of carbon dioxide than the air in the alveolus.

So, carbon dioxide diffuses from a higher concentration in the blood to a lower concentration in the alveolus.