Biology > Circulatory System > Flashcards

Circulatory System Flashcards

(55 cards)

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1
Q

What are the 2 functions of blood?

A

. Transports materials and heat around the body

. Protection from disease

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2
Q

What are the 4 structures that make up blood?

A

. Plasma

. Erythrocytes (red blood cells)

. Leukocytes (white blood cells)

. Platelets

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3
Q

What is the structure of erythrocytes (red blood cells)?

A

. Biconcave shape - maximises surface area for oxygen absorption

. Small and flexible - fit through narrow blood vessels

. No nucleus to carry more haemoglobin for oxygen

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4
Q

What are the functions of erythrocytes (red blood cells)?

A

. Delivers oxygen

. Carries back waste gases & carbon dioxide

. Contains haemoglobin (carries oxygen)

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5
Q

How does haemoglobin give blood its colour (red)?

A

Contains iron which combined with oxygen

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6
Q

What is the structure of leukocytes (white blood cells)?

A

. Some have a granular cytoplasm

. Various structures

. Large, lobed nucleus

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7
Q

What are the functions of leukocytes (white blood cells)?

A

. Defend body against disease

. Consists of B-lymphocytes - makes antibodies

. T-lymphocytes - initiates immune response

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8
Q

What is the structure of platelets?

A

. Fragments of cells - to stick together during clotting

. Proteins attached to their surface - to stick together during clotting

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9
Q

What are the functions of platelets?

A

. They clump together to clot blood to stop bleeding

. Heal wounds by creating scabs

. Prevent the entry of pathogens

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10
Q

What is the structure of plasma?

A

. Clear, pale yellow colour

. Liquid form

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11
Q

What are the functions of plasma?

A

. Carries platelets, red blood cells & white blood cells, hormones around body

. Removes waste products

. Maintains blood pressure

. Regulates blood fluids balance & pH levels

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12
Q

What is the circulatory system made up of?

A

. Heart

. Blood

. Blood vessels

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13
Q

What is the function of the circulatory system?

A

. Circulates blood around the body

. Transports nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones, waste & blood cells

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14
Q

What are the 3 blood vessels?

A

. Arteries

. Capillaries

. Veins

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15
Q

What is the structure of arteries?

A

Thick elastic tissue walls

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16
Q

What is the function of arteries?

A

Carries oxygenated blood at high pressure from heart to the body

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17
Q

What is the structure of veins?

A

. Valves - prevent backflow of blood

. Large lumen

. Thin walls

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18
Q

What is the function of veins?

A

Carries deoxygenated blood at low pressure from body back to the heart

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19
Q

What is the structure of capillaries?

A

Single layer of endothelial cells

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20
Q

What is the function of capillaries?

A

. Gas exchange

. Exchange of nutrients, glucose, oxygen, CO2 between blood & tissues

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21
Q

What are the 4 chambers of the heart?

A

. Left ventricle

. Left atrium

. Right ventricle

. Right atrium

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22
Q

What are the characteristics of the aorta?

A

. Largest artery

. Elastic, thick muscular walls

. Small lumen

. Withstands large pressures

. No valves

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23
Q

What are the characteristics of the vena cava?

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A

. Transports deoxygenated blood to the heart

. Large lumen to reduce flow resistance

. Valves to prevent back flow as it’s at low pressure

24
Q

What are the characteristics of the chambers of the heart?

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A

. Muscular walls to help pump blood

. Ventricles are more muscular as blood needs to be forced out of heart at higher pressures

. Left side of heart is more muscular as it pumps around the body

. Right side just pumps blood to the lungs

25
What is the cardiac cycle?
. A series of events that occurs when the heart beats . Circulates blood through the pulmonary and systemic circuits . Double circulatory system
26
What is the process of the double circulatory system?
. Carries blood to lungs to be oxygenated via pulmonary artery . Gas exchange in lungs - CO2 removed, oxygen carried by haemoglobin in red blood cells to heart via pulmonary vein . Carries oxygenated blood around body leaving heart via the aorta . Deoxygenated blood returns to heart via vena cava . Oxygenated blood pumped on left side, deoxygenated blood pumped on right side
27
Define ‘diastole’
. The relaxation phase of the cardiac cycle that allows blood to enter the heart chambers . Valves are closed
28
Define ‘systole’
. The contraction phase of the cardiac cycle where it allows blood to exit the chambers of the heart . Valves are open
29
What are baroreceptors?
Receptors in the heart sensitive to changes in the pressure of blood filling the atria
30
What does the sinoatrial node do?
. The ‘natural pacemaker’ . Positioned in right atrium . Causes impulse to travel through atria causing contraction forcing blood into ventricles . Sets heart rate & rhythm
31
What does the atrioventricular node do?
. Sends an electrical impulse to the Bundle of His . Delays the impulse so atria can contract before ventricles
32
What is the ‘bundle of His’?
Group of fibres in septum which the impulse travels through to base of the ventricles
33
What are purkinje fibres?
. Act like neurons found in walls of ventricles . Transmits an impulse from “Bundle of His” causing ventricles to contract
34
What is the order of heartbeat regulation?
. Sinoatrial node fires in right atrium . Atria contract (systole) . Impulse reaches atrioventricular node . Atrioventricular node delays impulse (so atrium and ventricles don’t contract at same time) . Impulse travels to bundle of His . Impulse travels through septum to base of ventricles . Impulse reaches Purkinje fibres . Ventricles contract from apex upwards . Blood forced out of heart
35
What is the order of blood in the heart?
. From body to superior & inferior vena cava . Right atrium . Right ventricle via the tricuspid valve . Pulmonary artery via the semilunar valve . Lungs - becomes oxygenated . Left atrium via the pulmonary veins . Left ventricle via the bicuspid valve . Aorta via the semilunar valve . Away from heart to body
36
What are the 3 circulatory disorders?
. Heart murmurs . Mitral valve disease . Von Willebrand’s disease (dogs)
37
What is the cause of mitral valve disease?
. Causes the mitral valve to degenerate . Does not close fully with each pumping action of heart, causing blood to flow backwards . Eventually the valve might collapse, causing heart failure
38
What are the symptoms of mitral valve disease?
. Heart murmur . Shortness of breath . Coughing . Reduced exercise ability
39
What are the treatments for mitral valve disease?
. Use of drugs to remove excess fluid & ease burden on the heart . Low sodium diet . Exercise restriction
40
What are the causes for Von Willebrand’s disease (dogs)?
. Insufficient amounts of a clotting factor so blood can’t clot properly . Type 1 - least severe . Type 2 - moderately severe . Type 3 - most severe
41
What are 3 symptoms for Von Willebrand’s disease (dogs)?
. Unexplained bleeding . Blood in urine/faeces . Excessive bleeding from minor wounds/surgeries . Lameness in joints
42
What are the treatments for Von Willebrand’s disease (dogs)?
. No treatment . Manage bleeds that occur . Reduce potential for bleeds
43
What is the cause of heart murmurs?
Abnormal blood flow through heart from an abnormal heart structure (problems with valves or chambers)
44
What are 3 symptoms of heart murmurs?
. Depend on extent of structural problem . Coughing . Weakness . Problems exercising
45
What are the treatments for heart murmurs?
. Depends on cause of murmurs . Some resolve themselves . Treated with diet, medication, possible surgery
46
What are the 4 blood vessels connected to the heart?
. Aorta . Vena cava (superior & inferior) . Pulmonary vein . Pulmonary artery
47
How is foetal haemoglobin different from adult haemoglobin?
. Different structure - higher oxygen carrying capacity . Steals oxygen from mothers blood - more effective
48
Give 2 advantages of a double circulatory system
. Improved blood flow . More oxygen . More nutrients to tissues
49
What are names of the two circuits in the double circulatory system?
. Pulmonary (blood to lungs) . Systemic (blood to heart)
50
Which side of the heart is more muscular and why?
. Left side . Pumps blood around whole body not just lungs
51
What chambers are more muscular and why?
. Ventricles . Blood must be forced out at a higher pressure
52
What are the consequences of mitral valve disease?
. Degeneration of mitral valve eventually worsens causing the valve to collapse . This leads to heart failure
53
What are the treatments of mitral valve disease?
. Drugs to remove excess fluid, ease the burden on heart . Low sodium diet . Exercise restriction
54
Why should dogs prone to mitral valve disease have a cardiac ultrasound before entering a breeding program?
To ensure affected dogs can’t enter the programme and pass it on
55
What valve is the mitral valve in the heart?
Tricuspid valve
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