KA 6: Transport Systems - Animals

• What components are found in mammalian blood?


  Plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells
• What is the primary function of blood in mammals?

  It transports nutrients, carbon dioxide, and oxygen
• How is blood circulated throughout the body?

  By muscular contractions of the heart
• What does the right side of the heart do?

  Collects blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs
• What does the left side of the heart do?

  Receives blood from the lungs and pumps it around the body
• How does blood return to the heart from the body?

  By passing into the right atrium and right ventricle
• What occurs in the lungs during blood circulation?

  Gas exchange occurs
• What is the role of valves in the heart?

  To maintain one-way blood flow
• Where are valves located in the heart?

  Between atria and ventricles, and in arteries
• Why are the walls of the atria thinner than the ventricles?

  Blood travels less far from atria
• Why is the wall of the right ventricle thinner than the left ventricle?

  Blood travels less far to the lungs
• What is the coronary circulation?

  The heart's own blood supply
• What can a blockage in the coronary artery lead to?

  A heart attack
• How does blood travel away from the heart?

  In arteries, then through capillaries
• What is the function of valves in veins?

  To ensure blood moves back to the heart
• What occurs in capillaries?

  Exchange of materials takes place
• What materials diffuse into tissue cells from the blood?

  Foods like glucose and oxygen
• What materials diffuse back from tissue cells into the capillary?

  Waste and carbon dioxide
• Why are capillary networks efficient for exchange?

  They have a large surface area and thin walls
• What shape are red blood cells?

  Biconcave
• What is the role of haemoglobin in red blood cells?

  It combines with oxygen to form oxyhaemoglobin
• What happens to oxyhaemoglobin in tissues?

  It breaks down to release oxygen
• What is the function of white blood cells?

  Part of the immune system, destroy pathogens
• What are pathogens?

  Disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and fungi
• What are the two types of white blood cells?

  Phagocytes and lymphocytes
• What do phagocytes do?

  Carry out phagocytosis by engulfing pathogens
• What do lymphocytes produce?

  Antibodies that destroy pathogens
• What is specific about each antibody produced by lymphocytes?

  Each is specific to a particular antigen
• Label this diagram.


  Structure of the heart.

  A) pulmonary artery

  B) vena cava

  C) right atrium

  D) right ventricle

  E) aorta

  F) pulmonary vein

  G) left atrium

  H) left ventricle