Communication

Question 1

What is the need for a communication system?

Answer 1

The heart and lungs work together to control cardiac output and ventiliation in order to meet the body’s needs in response to stimulus

Question 2

What are the characteristics of a good communication system?

Answer 2

• Cover the whole body
• Enable cells to communicate with each other
• Enable specific communication
• Enable rapid communication
• Enable both short-term and long-term responses

Question 3

What are the two responses in the body to stimulus?

Answer 3

• Nervous responses
• Chemical (hormonal) responses

Question 4

What is the function of endocrine?

Answer 4

Secretory products released directly into the bloodstream, eventually reaching the target organ. Thyroid glands, parathyroid glands, pituitary glands, adrenal glands.

Question 5

Define cell signalling.

Answer 5

The way that cells communicate with each other. This involves molecules that have a specific shape which is complementary to that of cell surface receptors.
Examples of systems that use cell signalling include:
* Neuronal system
* Hormonal system

Question 6

What are the different types of cell signalling?

Answer 6

• Endocrine - Hormones released into bloodstream
• Paracrine - Target cell is near the signal releasing cell. Examples of paracrine signaling include responses to allergens, tissue repair, the formation of scar tissue, and blood clotting. e.g. oestrogen produced in the ovaries for maturation of ovarian follicles
• Autocrine - Cell signal is released from the cell and binds to same cell e.g. T lymphocytes; formation of tumours.