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Biology🍃 > Topic2.2 - The Circulatory System > Flashcards

Topic2.2 - The Circulatory System Flashcards

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1
Q

Functions of the circulatory system

A

Transport of substances
Protection against diseases
Regulation of body temperature

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2
Q

The circulatory system is composed of 3 basic components

A 
A network of tubes (blood vessels)
A fluid (blood)
A pump (heart)
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3
Q

Structure of red blood cells

A

Biconcave shape to increase SA.

Doesn’t contain nucleus, mitochondria or ribosomes - leaves more room for many haemoglobin molecules.

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4
Q

Function of red blood cells

A

Transport oxygen to body cells and deliver CO2 to lungs.

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5
Q

Function of white blood cells

A

Important in defence against disease.

Lymphocytes produce antibodies and phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms in a process called phagocytosis.

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6
Q

Function of platelets

A

Important in blood clotting and formation of scabs.

Convert the protein fibrinogen to fibrin.

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7
Q

Function of plasma

A

Responsible for the transport of:

  • blood cells
  • absorbed food molecules (eg glucose, amino acids)
  • CO2
  • hormones
  • urea
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8
Q

Substances transported by the blood

A

Oxygen (for respiration)

CO2 (from respiration)

Products of digestion - molecules such as glucose, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Urea (waste product found in urine)

Hormones (eg adrenaline and insulin)

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9
Q

Structure of arteries

A

Thick outer wall
Thick layer of muscle and elastic fibres
Smooth lining
Small lumen

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10
Q

Why are arteries structured in the way that they are?

A

The thick outer wall and sub-layer allow the arteries to expand as blood flows through them in a pulsatile way.

Maintenance of pressure is also helped due to reduced diameter of vessels’ lumen.

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11
Q

Structure of veins

A

Fairly thin outer wall
Thin layer of muscle and elastic fibres
Smooth lining
Large lumen

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12
Q

Why are veins structured in the way that they are?

A

Wide lumen to accommodate low pressure.

Risk of back flow - valves to prevent this as they are only able to open in one direction (forced closed of blood flows backwards). The

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13
Q

Structure of capillaries

A

Walls made of a single layer of cells

Very small lumen

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14
Q

Why are capillaries structured in the way that they are?

A

Responsible for exchange of gases in lungs and entry of nutrients into blood.

Diffusion distances are minimised due to walls being only 1 cell thick and there being gaps between.

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15
Q

How do valves work?

A

Blood flowing upwards pushes valve open.

Blood trying to flow downwards pushes valve shut.

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16
Q

Apart from valves, what helps blood back to the heart?

A

Contractions of skeletal muscles as you move around - the muscles in your legs help blood back to heart against force of gravity.

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17
Q

Order of vessels blood flows through

A 
Aorta
Arteries
Arterioles 
Capillaries
Veins
Vena cava
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18
Q

Function of arterioles

A

Constrict and dilate to regulate blood flow and blood pressure

19
Q

Learn circulatory system diagram

A

Learn circulatory system diagram

20
Q

What is the heart made of?

A

Specialised muscle tissue called cardiac muscle

21
Q

Which sides pump the different types of blood?

A

Left hand side pumps oxygenated blood

Right hand side pumps deoxygenated blood

In a healthy individual, these 2 types should never mix.

22
Q

How is the direction of blood flow controlled?

A

Valves: held in place by tendons (heart strings)

23
Q

When your atria and ventricles relax…

A

They fill with blood

24
Q

Learn heart diagram

A

Learn heart diagram

25
Q

What is the difference between the atrium walls and the ventricle walls?

A

The ventricles have much thicker walls -> this will generate much greater pressure when it contracts - allows blood to travel further.

26
Q

What is the difference between the left ventricle wall and the right ventricle wall?

A

The left ventricle has a thicker wall:

  • > the right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs and therefore less pressure required
  • > the left ventricle pumps blood to every other organ in the body - requires much greater pressure
27
Q

Explain double circulation

A

The right side is responsible for pumping deoxygenated blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen; the left is responsible for pumping oxygenated blood to the organs of the body to allow respiration.
This means that to complete one ‘lap’ of the body, the blood travels through the heart twice.

28
Q

Factors affecting heart rate

A 
Diet
Body size
Stress
Heart size 
Gender
Injury
Fitness
Exercise
29
Q

Your pulse corresponds to

A

The contraction of the left ventricle - a reflection of the pulsatile flow of blood through the arterial system.

30
Q

What is heart rate measured in?

A

Bpm

31
Q

Top athletes’ resting heart rate

A

Top athletes have a low resting heart rate (35bpm) as they have a larger heart - this means it doesn’t need to contract as often as it holds a greater volume of blood.

32
Q

What happens to the heart rate during exercise?

A

Heart and breathing rate increase - the demand for oxygen and fuel for your muscle tissue increases. Therefore blood has to be pumped to these cells more often.

33
Q

Supply and demand of blood

A

If cells need energy for movement then they need oxygen and glucose (the basic ingredients to allow respiration).

34
Q

Adrenaline

A

(The fight or flight hormone) released during stress - increases heart rate in preparation for an event that requires more energy.

35
Q

How is tissue fluid formed?

A

Plasma is forced out of the capillaries into the spaces between the cells making up the tissues due to…

  • blood still being under high pressure on arrival to capillary network
  • the leaky nature of the capillary walls
36
Q

Function of tissue fluid

A

Bathes all body cells - allows every cell to be supplied with dissolved nutrients and absorbs any waste materials produced by the cells.

37
Q

The lymphatic system

A

Another network of vessels.

The ‘used’ tissue fluid drains into the lymph vessels (the fluid in these vessels is called lymph) and actually returned to the main circulation (at the subclavian veins).

38
Q

Learn plasma, tissue fluid and lymph diagram

A

Learn plasma, tissue fluid and lymph diagram

39
Q

What is atherosclerosis?

A

Furring up of arteries by fatty substances

40
Q

Causes of atherosclerosis

A
  • a diet high in cholesterol (which is deposited in areas called plaques)
  • smoking: cigarette smoke contains many toxins, some of which make the lining of the vessels more susceptible to fat being laid down
  • a sedentary lifestyle (lack of physical activity)
41
Q

How to avoid/minimise risk of atherosclerosis

A
  • avoid fatty foods (esp animal fats)

- eat more foods rich in antioxidants (eg fresh f+v) which can reverse the process to some extent

42
Q

What is one way of preventing growth/minimising effects of plaque in the arteries?

A

Insert a tube carrying a deflated balloon into the vessel.

The balloon is inflated, compressing the deposit and keeping lumen open.

43
Q

What is another way of preventing growth/minimising effects of plaque in the arteries?

A

Insert a more rigid sheath that’ll hold the vessel open.

Or a tube can be inserted with a small cutting device to completely remove the plaque.

These types of procedures are known as catheterisation.

44
Q

What other effect does plaque have on the blood vessels?

A

Can make the vessels more rigid. If this happens in the arteries, they won’t be able to accommodate the pulsing flow of blood. This means the vessel walls could burst - can lead to internal bleeding and in severe cases, death.

Biology🍃 (9 decks)

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