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Biology - Human Transport Notes

The document discusses transport systems in humans. It describes the blood system, which transports blood throughout the body using two main components: plasma and blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). The blood transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, carbon dioxide and other materials. It also helps protect the body from disease and aids in blood clotting to prevent excessive blood loss from damaged tissues. The lymphatic system works alongside the blood system to transport lymph throughout the body.

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3K views

Biology - Human Transport Notes

The document discusses transport systems in humans. It describes the blood system, which transports blood throughout the body using two main components: plasma and blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets). The blood transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, carbon dioxide and other materials. It also helps protect the body from disease and aids in blood clotting to prevent excessive blood loss from damaged tissues. The lymphatic system works alongside the blood system to transport lymph throughout the body.

Uploaded by

acsbr4science1
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Biology Notes: Transport in humans

General Overview:
 Diffusion is not viable in large organisms.
 A transport system is necessary for humans.
 2 types of systems: blood system and lymphatic system.
 Blood system transports blood.
 Blood consists of plasma, blood cells(corpuscles) and platelets.

Composition of blood:
Plasma

 Soluble proteins such as fibrinogen, prothrombin and antibodies.


o Fibrinogen and prothrombin aid in blood clotting.
o Antibodies help fight diseases.
 Dissolved mineral salts.
o Bicarbonates, chlorides, sulfates and phosphates of calcium, sodium and potassium.
o These exist as ions in the plasma.
o Calcium is essential for blood clotting.
 Food substances.
o Glucose, amino acids, fats and vitamins.
 Excretory products.
o Urea, uric acid and creatinine.
o Carbon dioxide is present as bicarbonate ions.
 Hormones.
o Insulin.

The amounts of soluble proteins, mineral salts and glucose in the blood plasma are kept relatively
constant.

Red blood cells/Erythrocytes

 Contain hemoglobin, an iron-containing pigment which combines with oxygen.


o This enables transport of oxygen around the body.
 Circular, flattened and biconcave.
o This increases the cell’s SA:V ratio. Absorption and release of oxygen occurs at a
faster rate.
 Have no nucleus.
 Elastic.
o Can squeeze through narrow blood vessels.

Red blood cells are produced by bone marrow and are broken down by the spleen. Hemoglobin is
broken down by the liver.
White blood cells/Leucocytes

 Two main kinds of white blood cells: Lymphocytes and Phagocytes.


o Lymphocytes are produced by the bone marrow and mature in the lymph nodes.
o They produce antibodies to protect the body from microorganisms.
o Phagocytes ingest foreign particles such as bacteria.
o This process is known as phagocytosis.
o Phagocytosis is aided by antibodies.
o The dead phagocytes and bacteria form pus.
o Lymphocytes have a rounder nucleus while phagocytes have lobed nuclei.
 White blood cells help the body fight diseases.

Blood platelets/Thrombocytes

 Not true cells.


 Aid in blood clotting.

Blood Groups
Blood groups are important when considering blood transfusions. Agglutination (clumping) of blood
cells can occur if the blood groups are not compatible.

Agglutination occurs when antibodies from the recipient’s blood react with antigens on the red
blood cells of the donor’s blood.

There are 4 blood groups: A, B, AB and O.

Antigens and antibodies present in the groups:

Blood Groups Antigen on RBC Antibody in serum


A antigen A antibody b
B antigen B antibody a
AB antigen A and B no antibodies
O no antigen antibodies a and b

Transfusion possibilities:

Recipient’s Antibody in Donor’s blood group


blood group recipient’s A (antigen B (antigen AB (antigen O (no
serum A) B) A & B) antigens)
A b - + + -
B a + - + -
AB no antibodies - - - -
O a and b + + + -
Functions of blood
Transport

 Digested food substances from capillaries in the small intestine to all parts of the body.
 Excretory products from the tissues to the excretory organs.
o Nitrogenous waste (urea, uric acid & creatinine) are removed by the kidney.
o Carbon dioxide is expelled from the lungs in exhalation.
 Hormones from glands.
 Oxygen, combined with hemoglobin in red blood cells.
o Hemoglobin has a great affinity for oxygen.
o Oxygen binds reversibly with hemoglobin to form oxyhemoglobin.
o This gives oxygenated blood the bright color.
o This is affected by carbon monoxide.
o Carbon monoxide bonds irreversibly with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin.
o This prevents red blood cells from transporting oxygen.
o At high altitudes, the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere is lower.
o The body must produce more red blood cells to compensate for the less oxygen.
o This is known as acclimatization.
 Heat produced in respiration, maintains uniform temperature.

Protection

 Clotting/Coagulation of blood
o Clotting prevents excessive loss of blood as well as foreign particles from
entering the bloodstream.
o Damaged tissues and platelets secrete thrombokinase.
o Thrombokinase converts prothrombin to thrombin. This is catalyzed by Ca 2+ ions.
o Thrombin converts fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin threads.
o Fibrin threads entangle blood cells which form a clot.
o The liquid left behind is serum.
o The inability to form a blood clot is hemophilia.
o In undamaged vessels, heparin prevents clotting. Thrombokinase neutralizes
heparin.

Tissue Rejection

 Tissue rejections occur when the tissues of the recipient and the donor do not match.
 Tissue rejection causes the recipient’s immune system to attack the donated tissue.
 Tissue rejection can be prevented in two ways.
o Tissue matching reduces the risk of rejections. The donor should be as
genetically close as possible. Close relatives are likely to have similar genes.
o Immunosuppressive drugs also reduce the risk of rejection. However, the
recipient has lower resistance to infection and the drugs have to be taken for
the rest of the recipient’s life.

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