Unit 2 - Topic 14 - The Circulatory System Flashcards

1
Q

Give three functions of the circulatory system

A

Transport of blood cells, food (glucose/amino acids), carbon dioxide and urea

Protection against disease

Thermoregulation

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2
Q

What is the function of a red blood cell?

A

The function of these cells is to carry oxygen around the body

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3
Q

What substance in the red blood cell allows them to carry oxygen?

A

Haemoglobin (rich in iron) enables the red blood cells to carry oxygen. The oxygen binds with the haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin.

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4
Q

How is the red blood cell adapted for its function?

A

Biconcave shape allows for a greater surface area for diffusion to occur

No nucleus, more space for oxygen

Once cell thick, short diffusion distance

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5
Q

Name two types of white blood cell

A

Phagocytes

Lymphocytes

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6
Q

What is the function of white blood cells?

A

They are important in the defence against disease

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7
Q

Describe how a lymphocyte aids in the detection of a foreign pathogen

A

Lymphocytes produce antibodies which are micro-organism specific. Certain antibodies will only work on certain pathogens. The antibodies produced will attach onto the protein structures called antigens present on a microbe and will identify the organism as foreign. Antibodies can link to more than one pathogen and cluster them together.

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8
Q

Describe how a phagocyte digests invading pathogens and name what this process is called.

A

After the pathogen has been identified by the lymphocyte, the phagocyte will begin to engulf the foreign microbe. The phagocyte will internally secrete enzymes which will digest the micro-organism, rendering it inactive. This process is known as phagocytosis.

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9
Q

What is the function of platelets.

A

These very small structures are important in blood clotting and the formation of scabs

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10
Q

How do the platelets carry out their role in the event of an open wound or incision?

A

The platelets rupture, setting off many reactions. The end result of these cause the fibrinogen (soluble) which is present in the plasma to convert to fibrin. This fibrin forms a ‘mesh network’ and traps other blood components such as red blood cells and white blood cells.

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11
Q

What is the function of the plasma in the blood?

A

The plasma is responsible for the transport of blood components and other substances.

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12
Q

What does the plasma transport?

A

The plasma transports blood components (such as red blood cells, platelets, white blood cells). The plasma is the liquid part of the blood and so carries many waste products (carbon dioxide, water, urea). The plasma is also responsible for the transport of absorbed food molecules such as glucose and amino acids, and in the movement of hormones. The plasma also contains the protein fibrinogen which is important for blood clotting.

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13
Q

How does the plasma stop cell lysis and crenation?

A

Salt and other chemicals in the plasma keep its concentration stable and at a concentration similar to the blood cells (isotonic solution). This prevents cell lysis or crenation from occurring .

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14
Q

Name the three types of blood vessels

A

Arteries
Veins
Capillaries

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15
Q

To alleviate the high pressure present in the arteries after leaving the heart, they branch out into smaller vessels which eventually form a network of capillaries. What is the name of these vessels?

A

Arterioles

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16
Q

When the capillary vessels have exchanged substances with the body cells and are ready to return to the heart, they converge into larger vessels which eventually form veins containing deoxygenated blood. What is the name of these vessels?

A

Veinules

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17
Q

For each of the three main blood vessel types, state the direction of blood flow relative to the heart, the thickness of their wall and the blood pressure for each vessel.

A

Artery

  • Away from heart
  • Thick
  • High

Vein

  • Back to heart
  • Relatively thin
  • Low

Capillary

  • Links arteries and veins
  • Thin (one cell thick)
  • Low
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18
Q

Arteries carry oxygenated blood and veins carry deoxygenated blood. Give two examples of exceptions to this rule.

A

The pulmonary artery

The pulmonary vein

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19
Q

Describe the structure of an artery

A
Narrow lumen
Endothelium lining
Muscle layer
Elastic fibre layer
Thick wall
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20
Q

Describe the structure of a vein

A
Wide lumen
Endothelium lining
Relatively thin Muscle layer
Relatively thin Elastic fibre layer
Relatively thin wall
Valves
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21
Q

Describe the structure of a capillary

A

Endothelium lining
Thin
One cell thick
Permeable

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22
Q

What is the role of the pulmonary vein?

A

Carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart

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23
Q

What is the role of the Aorta?

A

Carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body

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24
Q

What is the role of the vena cava?

A

Carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart

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25
Q

What is the role of the pulmonary artery?

A

Carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs

26
Q

What is the role of the hepatic portal vein?

A

Carries digested food (glucose/amino acids) from the small intestine to the liver

27
Q

What is the role of the hepatic artery?

A

Carries oxygenated blood to the liver from the Aorta

28
Q

What is the role of the hepatic vein?

A

Carries deoxygenated blood rich in glucose and amino acids to the vena cava, which in turn delivers this blood to the heart

29
Q

What is the role of the renal artery?

A

Carries blood rich in urea and oxygen to the kidney for excretion

30
Q

What is the role of the renal vein?

A

Carries deoxygenated blood low in urea back to the vena cava, which in turn delivers this blood back to the heart.

31
Q

Why are the circulatory systems of humans and other mammals described as double circulatory systems?

A

This means that the blood travels through the heart twice in one circulation of the body

32
Q

Give an example of an animal who’s circulatory system is described as being a single circulatory system.

A

Fish

33
Q

Why is the heart described as a double pump?

A

As the heart is really two pumps, one on the left and one on the right. The right pump delivers blood to the lungs and the left pump delivers blood to the body.

34
Q

Why is there more muscle on the left hand side of your heart than there is on the right?

A

The right side of your heart only has to pump blood to your lungs, whereas the left has to pump blood all around your body.

35
Q

What is the name of the blood vessels which supply the hear itself with oxygen?

A

The heart itself receives blood from the Coronary arteries, which branch from the Aorta almost immediately after it leaves the heart. These are the fine blood vessels that can be seen running over the outer surface of the heart.

36
Q

What is the circulatory disease associated with a bad diet and/or high blood pressure?

A

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)

37
Q

What substances can build up in arteries and narrow the artery lumen?

A
Cholesterol
Fatty substance (Fatty acids and Glycerol)
38
Q

What are the major health implications posed by the consumption of fatty foods and the narrowing of artery lumens?

A

Over time this leads to a narrowing of the arteries, making it more difficult for blood to flow through them.

Eventually, an artery may become so narrow that a blockage forms and stops blood from flowing in this particular artery.

39
Q

What are the risks posed if a blockage or narrowing of a vessel occurs in the coronary arteries supplying the heart muscle?

A

If a blockage forms in the Coronary artery, this will prevent the vessel from supplying the heart muscle with necessary oxygen and glucose required for respiration. The heart muscle cells will die as a consequence, causing the heart to stop beating. This is a heart attack.

40
Q

What are the health implications if this type of blockage occurs in the arteries supplying the brain (e.g Carotid artery)?

A

If the blockage is in the brain, a stroke can result.

The cells that are supplied by the blocked artery will not receive the necessary glucose and oxygen, and as a result will die. This will stop the area affected from properly carrying out its function and the brain will be affected as a direct result. This can often cause paralysis of parts of the body.

Symptoms that indicate someone is having a stroke. FAST.

41
Q

List some of the lifestyle factors that can contribute to circulatory disorders (CHD, Heart Attack, Stroke)

A
Excessive alcohol consumption
Smoking
Stress
Lack of exercise
Obesity
High blood pressure
Poor diet
42
Q

How does regular exercise benefit the circulatory system?

A

Exercise burns up fat stores which could otherwise block arteries or lead to obesity, reducing the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

Exercise also helps by strengthening the heart muscle.

43
Q

How does regular exercise benefit the heart muscle?

A

Exercise helps by strengthening the heart muscle

A stronger heart will have an increased output of blood per beat even when not exercising

This means that the heart is under less strain as it has to pump less often to get the same amount of blood around the body over a period of time.

44
Q

What is your recovery rate?

A

Your recovery rate is the time it takes for your pulse rate or heart rate to return to normal after exercise. This will usually be shorter for those who exercise and play sport.

45
Q

Why does your heart rate rise when exercising?

A

When we exercise we need more energy and the heart works harder to pump more blood to our muscles so that they can get more oxygen and glucose for respiration to occur.

46
Q

You are given a diagram showing the pulse rates of an athlete and a normal person during which they completed a strenuous activity. Comment on why you believe the athlete is in better physical shape and has a stronger heart muscle.

A

The athlete’s resting heart rate was lower

His peak heart rate during the activity was lower

His recovery time was less

47
Q

In which part of the circulatory system does the largest fall in blood pressure occur?

A

From the Aorta to its constituent arteries

48
Q

What is the role of the elastic fibres present in the walls of arteries?

A

The elastic fibres expand and dilate as the blood pulsates through the artery, changing the lumen width

49
Q

What does the blood consist of in terms of substances?

A

The blood consists of:

  • Plasma: watery fluid containing dissolved carbon dioxide, salt, glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, hormones and plasma proteins (proteins made in the liver)
50
Q

What does tissue fluid consist of in terms of substances?

A

Similar to blood but does not contain many of the cells found in the blood, nor does it contain plasma proteins

51
Q

What is the role of tissue fluid?

A

Tissue fluid acts as a medium for which dissolved materials can diffuse between the body’s cells and the bloodstream. The tissue fluid bathes the body’s cells and allows for the exchange of substances necessary for respiration.

52
Q

What happens to excess tissue fluid which does not return to the blood?

A

This tissue fluid is collected by the lymphatic vessel and is now called lymph.

53
Q

What are the contents of lymph fluid?

A

Urea, water, other waste products

54
Q

What happens to the lymph after it is collected by the lymph vessel?

A

The fluid is eventually returned to the blood, making up blood plasma

55
Q

How does plasma present in the blood transfer across to the body’s cells in the form of tissue fluid?

A

As an artery diverges into arterioles and capillaries, the blood pressure rapidly decreases. The narrow lumens of these vessels pushes the plasma out of the blood which bathes the body’s cells and is now referred to as tissue fluid. These substances are very similar in composition but different in location. Much of the tissue fluid is then returned to the blood or recollected by the lymphatic vessel in the form of lymph fluid.

56
Q

Give another name for red blood cells

A

Erythrocytes

57
Q

Give another name for white blood cells

A

Leucocytes

Leukocytes

58
Q

Give the name of a circulatory disease caused by the lack of red blood cells

A

Anaemia

59
Q

What factors can cause anaemia?

A

Lack of iron in the diet

Loss of blood

60
Q

What symptoms are associated with anaemia?

A

Lethargy, extreme tiredness
Fainting
Pale complexion
Rapid pulse rate, heart palpitations

61
Q

How can some blood disorders be treated?

A

Blood transfusions

Medical supplements to replenish minerals or substances which will help in the production of a specific blood component

62
Q

Why are ventricles more muscular than atria?

A

Atria only have to pump blood from one chamber to another, whereas ventricles have to pump blood farther i.e to the lungs or to the body