3.4 - Mass Transport in Animals Flashcards
What is the main fucntion of the mammalian blood system?
To transport nutrients like oxygen and ions and take waste away.
What are the four main components of the blood?
Plasma
Red Blood Cells
White Blood Cells
Platelets.
What is the function of red blood cells?
To transport oxygen
What is the function of white blood cells?
Immune response, protect from pathogen
What is the function of platelets?
Blood clotting
What is haemoglobin?
A red pigment that transports oxygen around the body.
What is the structure of haemoglobin?
Globular, soluble protein with quarternary structure.
How many haem groups does one haemoglobin molecule contain?
Four haem goups in one haemoglobin
How many oxygen molecules can bind to each haemoglobin molecule?
Each haem group can combine temporarily with with one oxygen molecule, so one haemoglobin can bind to four O2 molecules or 8 oxygen atoms.
How is oxyhaemoglobin formed?
From oxygen and haemoglobin combining.
What is the partial pressure of oxygen?
The partial pressure of oxygen is a measure of oxygen concentration.
What causes the pO2 to increase?
When oxygen loads onto haemoglobin
What causes the pO2 to decrease?
When oxyhaemoglobin unloads its oxygen.
What happens to pO2 during respiration?
When cells respire, they use up oxygen, lowering the pO2.
What does the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve show?
A dissociation shows how saturated the haemoglobin is with oxygen at any given partial pressure.
What does it mean if the oxygen dissociation curve for haemoglobin shifts right.
There is more CO2, giving up more oxygen for respiring cells.
What is CO2 converted to in red blood cells?
Hydrogen carbonate Ions (HCO3)
How does pressure impact the dissociation?
Haemoglobin gives up its oxygen more readily at high partial pressures of CO2 and the curve shifts to the right.
Why is the dissociation curve s-shaped?
The s-shaped curve for haemoglobin results from the cooperative binding of oxygen; once one oxygen has bound to a haem group, it becomes easier for the next three oxygen molecules to bind to the other three haem groups.
Where in the body is pO2 low?
In the respiring tissues
Where in the body is pO2 high?
In the lungs
What type of system is the circulatory system?
A double circulatory system: pulmonary system and systemic system
What are the two chambers in the heart?
Atrium and ventricle
What are the characteristics of the atrium?
Thin walled and elastic, the atrium can stretch when filled with blood.