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(A Level) Biology > Topic 1 - The Heart (+Water) (1.1 to 1.4) > Flashcards

Topic 1 - The Heart (+Water) (1.1 to 1.4) Flashcards

1
Q

What is a mass transport system

A

A system which transports substances (such as oxygen) from one part of an organism in one direction via vessels or tubes

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2
Q

Why are mass transport systems used

A

They overcome limits of diffusion → making transport in an organism more efficient

Larger organisms need mass transport systems as their small Sa:V is low, so the rate of diffusion is low

By having a mass transport system molecules such as glucose can diffuse into cells faster

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3
Q

How does having a mass transport system affect metabolic rate

A

It ensures a high metabolic rate as mammals have a high demand for glucose and oxygen
A mass transport system helps make the diffusion of these molecules more efficient

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4
Q

What type of system is the circulatory system

A

It is a mass transport system

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5
Q

What are the features of an efficient circulatory system (4 features)

A
  1. Pump
  2. Transport medium
  3. Blood vessels
  4. Exchange surfaces
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6
Q

Why are different blood pressures needed in a circulatory system

A

Different pressures are needed for different process / reactions in the body

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7
Q

Why do exchange surfaces like capillaries make the circulatiry system more efficient

A

They have a high SA:V ratio making diffusion more efficient

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8
Q

What are the features of an open circulatory system

A

No vessels to transport blood
Blood (Haemolymph in insects) is pumped into body cavities

Haemolymph has direct contact to cells / tissue for nutrient exchange
(Short diffusion distance between the heart and cavities)

Low blood pressure (no vessels to maintain a pressure gradient)

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9
Q

Why do smaller organisms have open circulatory systems

A

Small organisms have a low metabolic demand so efficient transport is not required

They have a large Sa : V so diffusion can be effective

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10
Q

What are the features of an closed circulatory systen

A

They have blood enclosed in vessels

This maintains a high blood pressure, so blood flows faster

This enables a higher metabolic rate (as o2 and glucose can be transported to cells faster)

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11
Q

Why do mamals have a high metabolic rate

A

Mamals have a large number of cells, so they have a greater requirement for energy

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12
Q

What vessels does blood pass through when going around the body (not a specific artery / veins)

A

Heart → arteries (first the pulmonary artery) → arterioles → capillaries → venules →veins → heart

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13
Q

What are the properties / blood flow in a 3-chambered heart

A

Oxygenated and deoxygenated blood enter into two different chambers and then mix together in the third chamber

Blood is taken to the lungs in the 3rd chamber, oxygenated and put back into the 2nd chamber.

The oxygenated blood enters the 3rd chamber and is taken to the rest of the body

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14
Q

What are ectotherms

A

Organisms that rely their environment to regulate body temperature

They have lower metabolic demands as they dont regulate their body temperature

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15
Q

What are the main features of a single circulatory system

A

Blood flows through the heart once per each full circuit of the body

2 chambered heart

Gill exchange network (deoxygenated blood going to gills) e.g fish
Systemic circuit ( blood going to body)

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16
Q

What are the main features of a double circulatory system

A

Blood flows through the heart twice for each full complete circuit of the body

4- chambered heart to ensure blood is pumped to the rest of the body at a high pressure

Pulmonary circuit - blood to lungs + back to heart

Systemic circuitb- supplies oxygenated blood to all the metabollic cells

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17
Q

How much of blood plasma is made of water

A

90%

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18
Q

What is a polar molecule

A

A molecule with unevenly distributed charges (it is dipole)

Water is a polar molecule

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19
Q

What is cohesion

A

Molecules forming bonds with similar molecules

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20
Q

How is water cohesive

A

Water forms hydrogen bonds to other water molecules

This allows water to flow (which makes it useful

Water can bond to up to 4 other water molecules

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21
Q

How is water a solvent

A

It is able to surround polar molecules and ions

It forms hydrogen bonds with the ions letting them be dissolved and transported

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22
Q

How is water a thermal buffer

A

It has a high specific hera capacity (lots of energy needed to change its temp)

It has a high latent heat of vaporisation (lots of heat needed to break bonds)
→ vaporised water carries heat away from the body

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23
Q

What is the heart made of

A

Cardiac muscle

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24
Q

How does the heart ‘beat’

A

Myogenic - It can move without instructions from the brain

Cardiac muscle can contract and relax via some input from the nervous system

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25
Q

What are the 4 heart chambers

A

Left atrium
Right atrium

Left ventricle
Right ventricle

The atria are the smallest chambers
The left ventricle has more muscle than the right ventricel

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26
Q

What are the 4 heart valves and where do they prevent backflow

A

Bicuspid valve → prevents backflow from the left ventricle to the left atrium

Tricuspid valve prevents backflow of blood between the right ventricle and right atrium

Semi lunar valves → prevents backflow between the pulmonary valve and the right ventricle

Prevents backflow between the aorta and left ventricle

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27
Q

What divides the oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the heart

A

The septum

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28
Q

Why is there a thicker cardiac muscle wall in the left ventricle

A

It has to pump blood further through the systemic circuit (blood must maintain a higher pressure)

Having more muscle means the force of contraction will be greater

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29
Q

What type of valves are the tricuspid and bicuspid

A

They are atrioventricular valves

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30
Q

What vein supplies deoxygenated blood to the heart

A

The superior vena cava (takes deoxygenated blood from above the heart)

The inferior vena cava ( takes deoxygenated blood from bellow the heart)

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31
Q

What artery brings deoxygenated blood to the lungs

A

The pulmonary artery

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32
Q

What vessel brings blood into the heart from the lungs

A

The pulmonary vein brings oxygenated blood into the left atrium

33
Q

How does oxygenated blood leave the heart

A

The ascending aorta → takes blood to the top of the body (systemic circuit)

The descending aorta - takes oxygenated blood to below the heart

34
Q

What is the systemic circuit

A

Delivers oxygenated blood to respiring cells and takes carbon dioxide back from cells

35
Q

What is the pulmonary circuit

A

Deoxygenated blood is moved to the alveoli in order to become oxygenated

36
Q

Why does the right ventricle have less muscle than the left

A

The right ventricle only brings blood to the pulmonary circuit so not as much pressure is required

Thinner muscle ensures lower blood pressure which prevents damage to the lungs / pulmonary circuit

37
Q

What are the 4 layers of the arteries called

A

Tunica externa (outside layer)
Tunica media (middle layer)
Tunic intima (inside layer)

Lumen

38
Q

What is in the tunica externa (arteries)

A

A layer of collagen
→ prevents the artery from bursting / overstretching due to high blood pressure
(Prevents rupture)

→ Gives support

39
Q

What is in the tunica Media (arteries)

A

-smooth muscle
→ thickest layer of the artery, it contracts and relaxes to change the size of the lumen
(Manages change in blood pressure)

-Elastic fibers
→ stretch and recoil to accommodate an increase in blood volume
Recoils to maintain blood pressure and to push it fowards

40
Q

What is in the tunica intima (arteries)

A

-smooth endothelial lining
→ reduces resistance of blood flow making it faster
→ highly folded allowing it to stretch and accommodate for an increase in blood volume

41
Q

Why do arteries have a narrow lumen

A

→ maintains a high blood pressure (blood flow is fast)

42
Q

Why is a pump needed in a mass circulatory system

A

Facilitates mass flow (mass transport)
Generates pressure differences

43
Q

Why is a transport medium needed in a circulatory system

A

needed to carry biological molecules such as glucose around an organism

44
Q

Why are blood vessels needed in a circulatory system

A

Controls the direction of blood flow + helps maintain blood pressure

45
Q

Why are exchange surfaces needed in a transport system

A

allows for more efficient transfer of molecules (e.g in the capillaries)

46
Q

How is water adhesive

A

It can form hydrogen bonds with other O-H groups such as the ones in glucose.

47
Q

What is adhesion

A

The bonding of two different molecules

48
Q

Why does water move upwards in the xylem

A

Water forms stronger hydrogen bonds to the O-H groups to glucose (found in the cellulose walls)

This causes the water molecules at the edge to climb upwards, bringing other water molecules with it

49
Q

Why is the endothelial lining in blood vessels folded

A

To allow it to contract and relax with the blood vessel

50
Q

Why do arteries have elastic fibers

A

So that they can stretch to accommodate an increase in blood volume

and so they can recoil to maintain high blood pressure, and push the blood forward

51
Q

Why do arteries have a thick wall of smooth muscle

A

The thick wall of smooth muscle allows the artery to contract and relax, pushing blood forwards

52
Q

What do veins do

A

They carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart at a lower pressure

53
Q

What do arteries do

A

They carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to cells at a high pressure (fast blood flow)

54
Q

What is in the tunica externa (veins)

A

Layer of collagen

it prevents the vein form collapsing due to low pressure

55
Q

What is in the Tunica Media (veins)

A

A thin layer of smooth muscle and elastic fibers

(the muscle does not contract and relax)

56
Q

What is in the Tunicas Intima (veins)

A

Smooth (folded) endothelial lining
it reduces the resistance of the blood

57
Q

Why do veins have valves

A

To prevent backflow of blood due to gravity

58
Q

What makes up a vein

A

Tunica externa
Tunica Media
Tunica Intima
Lumen + Valves

59
Q

How is blood moved / pushed in the veins

A

Skeletal muscle surrounding the veins contracts, narrowing its lumen

This causes blood to be pushed forwards / upwards

60
Q

Where are capillaries found

A

They are the most abundant blood vessel and can be found next to every living cell in our body

61
Q

What are the layers of the capillary

A

They have a 1 cell layer thick wall made of endothelial cells (porous walls)

They have a very narrow lumen (that can only fit 1 cell at a time)

62
Q

How does blood flow through a capillary

A

At a low pressure and speed, giving time for exchange to occur

Only 1 blood cell at a time

63
Q

Why does the speed going through a capillary have to be low

A

So that efficient transfer and exchange and transfer of minerals can occur (e.g oxygen)

And to prevent capillary damage

64
Q

what is the cardiac cycle

A

The rhythmic cycle where chambers alternatively contract and relax

65
Q

What does systole mean

A

contraction

66
Q

What does diastole mean

A

Relaxation

67
Q

What are the main stages of the cardiac cycle

A

Atrial systole
ventricular systole
cardiac diastole

68
Q

How do valves passively open or close

A

They open / close due to differences in pressure

when the pressure is greater in front of the valve it closes

when the pressure is greater behind the valve it opens

69
Q

What is the purpose of tendons connected to valves

A

They prevent valve inversion

(opening the wrong way)

70
Q

What happens in atrial systole

A

Blood fills the atria under low pressure
As the atria fills the pressure increases
As the atria pressure is greater than the ventricular pressure the atrioventricular valve opens

the heart muscle in the atria contracts forcing blood into the ventricle

71
Q

what happens in ventricular systole

A

Ventricles contact so the pressure increases

ventricular pressure > atrial pressure so AV valves close

ventricular pressure > arterial (blood vessel) pressure so semi lunar valves open

72
Q

What happens in cardiac diastole

A

atria and ventricular walls relax

decrease in ventricular pressure so the semi lunar valves close

Lower pressure in the atria draws blood in from veins

73
Q

Why does low pressure in the atria cause blood from the veins to move into it

A

As blood moves through mass movement - (high to low pressure)

74
Q

What is systolic blood pressure

A

Pressure exerted against the arterial wall when the heart contracts

75
Q

what is diastolic blood pressure

A

Pressure exerted against the arterial wall when the heart muscle relaxes

76
Q

how many times does the heart ‘beat’ in the cardiac cycle

A

The entire cardiac cycle is considered as one heart beat

77
Q

What is the average blood pressure on the right side of the heart

A

25/10 mmHg

78
Q

What is the average blood pressure on the left side of the heart

A

120/80 mmHg

79
Q

In a cardiac cycle pressure graph where does each valve open / close

A

The av Valve closes as the ventricular pressure increases (bottom left of the graph)

The semi lunar valve opens when the ventricular pressure is above the arterial ( labeled above the av closing)

The SL valve closes when the ventricular pressure falls

The AV valve opens when ventricular pressure is lower than atrial

(A Level) Biology (8 decks)

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