Unit 2: Transport Systems Flashcards
Describe the ratio of surface area: volume in cells
As a cell grows, it’s volume increases much more than the surface area. Therefore, the SA:V ratio decreases. A cell wants to have a large SA:V ratio.
Why is a small surface area:volume ratio bad?
Cells need to import molecules and expel waste products through the plasma membrane in order to survive. If the surface area is too small compared to the volume, not enough necessary molecules can get in and not enough waste (including heat) can get out.
How is a large surface area:volume ratio achieved?
mitosis allows cells to divide into 2 smaller cells, which allows a larger ratio to be restored. Microvilli (small folds on the cell membrane) increase the surface area even more and this allows nutrients to be absorbed more efficiently.
What is the importance of the surface area to volume ratio as a factor for limiting cell size? (8 mark question)
As a volume of a cell increases, the SA:V volume decreases
food/oxygen enters through the surface of cells
Waste leaves through the surface of cells
The rate of substance crossing the membrane depends on surface area
More metabolic activity in a larger cell means more food and oxygen required
Larger volume:
longer diffusion time
more waste produced
Excess heat generated will not be lost efficiently (with low SA:V ratio)
Eventually sa can no longer serve the requirements of the cell
This critical ratio stimulates mitosis
The size of the cell is reduced and kept within size limits
What is cell differentiation?
a process in which unspecialised cells develop into cells with a more distinct structure and function
What are emergent properties?
Emergent properties: a complex system possesses properties that its constituent parts do not have; the whole is more than the sum of its parts (due to the interaction between the different parts)
What is a genome?
The complete set of genes, chromosomes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
Describe the steps of cell evolution.
Life started out with unicellular organisms.
Through evolution: cells clumped together and started working together to form multicellular organisms
For organism growth: needs either giant cells or more cells. Due to SA:V ratio, the cell cannot grow too much, which is why cells become multicellular
Steps of evolution:
- Organisms were no longer limited by the size of the cell and grew larger
- Cells in such an organism specialised through differentiation
- Multicellular organisms displayed emergent properties
What is the role of arteries?
carry blood AWAY from the heart to the body
What is the role of pulmonary arteries?
transport blood with low oxygen content from the right ventricle to the lungs.
What is the role of systemic arteries?
transport oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body tissues
Describe the Tunica Intima (in arteries)
Tunica intima: innermost layer and is in direct contact with the blood in the lumen. Includes the endothelium that lines the lumen of all vessels, therefore forming a smooth, friction reducing lining.
Describe the Tunica Media (in arteries)
- middle coat
- mainly made up of smooth (involuntary) muscle cells and elastic fibres arranged in roughly spiral layers
- usually the thickest of the 3 layers
Describe the tunica adventitia / externa (in arteries)
- outermost coat
- tough layer consisting of loosely woven collagen fibres that protect the blood vessel and anchor it to surrounding structures.
What is Diastolic pressure?
When the cardiac muscle is relaxing.
What is systolic pressure?
when the cardiac muscle contracts.
How does the structure of the artery help it?
Arteries can cope with the pressure as the walls (tunica externa/adventitia) are elastic:
- Contain elastic fibres formed by elastic protein
- Stretched with every heartbeat
- Back at normal shape they recoil to propel the blood forward
Muscular walls (tunica media) help with the propulsion of the blood
Tunica media and externa/adventitia help maintain high blood pressure
Smooth muscle arounds arteries can also relax which is called vasodilation
What is the role of veins?
Transport blood back to the heart and return it to the atria
Describe how the structure of a vein helps it fulfil its function.
veins have low blood pressure and travel at a slower pace
Don’t have as thick tunica medias
Skeletal muscles and valves keep the blood flowing
Skeletal muscles provide pressure which squeeze the veins
Movement is required to keep the blood flowing
Due to gravity there is a danger of backflow
Valves close to prevent backflow
These make sure blood only flows towards the heart
What is the role of capillaries?
Capillaries are the connection between arteries and veins
This is because nutrients and oxygen must be transported to everywhere in the body
How are capillaries formed?
Arteries form arterioles which then form capillaries
Capillaries then form venules which fuse together to form veins
Describe the structure of capillaries.
Have walls that are only one-cell thick (diameter of 3–4 µm)
The wall is made up of endothelial cells.
What are the similarities / differences in structure between arteries, veins and capillaries?
Number of layers: Veins and arteries both have 3 layers (intima, media, externa) whereas capillaries have one layer of endothelial cells.
Tunica media: thicker in an artery than in a vein (due to blood pressure), nonexistent in capillaries
Muscle and elastin fibres: thicker layer in arteries than in veins, don’t exist in capillaries
Valves: only exist in veins
Wall thickness and lumen: arteries generally have thicker walls with narrower lumens than veins. Capillaries have a wall that is 1 cell thick and a lumen that is around 5 µm
Look at image in google doc.
Describe the differences in blood pressure, blood velocity and surface area in arteries, veins and capillaries.
Blood pressure: high in arteries, low in veins, lowest in capillaries
Blood velocity: highest in arteries, lowest in veins, high in capillaries
Surface area: smallest in arteries, largest in veins and small in capillaries