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42 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Describe the biological hierarchy of organisation |
The biological hierarchy of organisation is the simplest level of structural organisation in aliving organism to the most complex: - Atom - Molecule - Macromolecule - Organelle - Cell - Tissue - Organ - Organ system - Organism (Human as a whole) |
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What are the first three levels in the biological hierarchy of organisation? |
- Chemistry - Cytology (study of cells) - Histology (study of tissues) |
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Define Cytology |
The study of cells. |
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Define Histology |
The study of tissues. |
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Define microscopic anatomy |
To study cytology and histology, you requiremagnification through a microscope. Therefore, these disciplines are sometimesreferred to as microscopic anatomy.
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Define gross anatomy |
The study of more complex levels, such asorgans, organ system and organism, does not require magnification, and itsstudy is referred to as gross anatomy.
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What is all matter made up of? |
All matter is made up of chemical elements. |
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What is the smallest piece of an element? |
The smallest piece of an element is an atom. |
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What can unite to form a molecule? |
Atoms can unite to form molecules. |
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What is a macromolecule? |
Some molecules, such as water (H20)are quite small. But some molecules, such as fat, DNA, starch and proteins, arerather large, so they are referred to as macromolecules.
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What can macromolecules unite to form? |
Macromolecules can unite toform complex structures called organellesthat carry out functions inside cells.
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What is the first level of organisation that we consider to be alive? |
Cells contain the combinationof organelles necessary to sustain life, so cells are the first level oforganisation that we consider to be alive. In fact, cells are the basic unitsof all living organisms.
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How many cells is the human body made up of? |
Trillions of cells. |
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Where do many of our body functions occur? |
Many of our body functions occur within our individual cells. |
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Where do all body processes begin? |
All body processes begin at the cell. |
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Explain how energy is initially harnessed by a human. |
Almost all energy on Earthultimately comes from the sun and is first harnessed by plants throughphotosynthesis. During this process, plants take in carbon dioxide and waterfrom the environment and use solar energy to convert these molecules intochemical energy, stored in sugars. Humans can’t harness energy from the sun, we weeat the plants, or the animals that ate them, to get the chemical energy theycreated and stored. Our cells then use that stored energy to perform our normalbody processes. The process by which we convert stored energy into a usableform is called cellular respiration
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Why do cells conserve energy where possible? |
Without energy, human’s die. We require considerable amounts of energy. Most extra energy (kJ), isstored in the body as fat, regardless of what we eat. This is the body’s way ofsaving energy for when we need it. Your body doesn’t make it easy to take thoseextra kJ out of storage because it is designed to conserve energy. If you cutback dramatically on your caloric intake, your body becomes even moreconservative and spends less energy, making it even harder to burn off thoseextra pounds! |
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Explain SI units, J units, kJ units and kcal units. |
In Systeme Internationale (SI)units, energy is measured in joules (J). This is a very small amount of energy,so we usually discuss them in kilojoules (kJ) which is 1,000 J. We’re morefamiliar with Calories, which correctly is kilocalories (kcal). Calories arenot part of the Systeme Internationale. I kcal is approximately 4 kJ. |
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How many kJ's are there in 1 kcal? |
I kcal is approximately 4 kJ. |
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How do our bodies minimise the effort needed to obtain the energy we need? |
We require considerable amounts of energy. To minimisethis cost, our bodies recycle. Many molecules are broken down into atoms andthen built back into other molecules, over and over again. The body is highlyconservative, it doesn’t make or maintain parts it doesn’t need, and it spendsas little energy as it can.
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What is homeostasis? |
To maintain the utmost efficiency,the body needs an optimal working environment. To achieve this, the body hasnumerous mechanisms, most of which require energy, that work to maintain arelatively constant internal environment. This internal constancy is called homeostasis. It literally means ‘to staythe same’.
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What is the body's normal temperature? |
37 degrees celsius. |
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What happens to the chemicals in our body if our temperature rises above 37, or goes below 37? |
If our body cools too much,chemical reactions will occur more slowly or not at all. If our temperaturegets too hot, chemical reactions speed up and some chemicals may be destroyed.
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What is the human body, blood, and cells mostly composed of? |
The human body is composed mostly of water, andis the main component of your cells and of your blood. |
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What happens if your water balance changes? |
Water balance is absolutelycritical. If you have too little water, nutrients cannot be adequatelytransported to your cells and wastes can accumulate to toxic levels. Your cellswill work less efficiently and may die. In plants, too much water dilutes thenutrients the plant cells need and causes them to swell and perhaps die. In thehuman body, too much water has the same effect, and when brain cells swell,death can occur. This condition is called water intoxication.
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Explain what negative feedback is? |
Homeostasis is achieved throughnegative feedback. The body coolsitself if it exceeds 37oC, and warms itself if it goes below it.Once the 37oC is achieved, the negative feedback process stops andthe body functions return to normal. Negative feedback is the control system bywhich our bodies correct errors, restores health, and maintains homeostasis.
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Name the four categories of tissues in the human body? |
- Epithelial tissue (epithelium) - Connective tissue - Muscle tissue - Nervous tissue |
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Explain the characteristics and function of epithelial tissue. |
Epithelial tissues are like wrappings.The form all linings and coverings in the body. The outer part of your skin,called the epidermis, is epithelialtissue. The outer surface of your heart, also called the epicardium, is epithelium. The linings of all your hollow organsand your blood vessels are epithelia, although these linings often take on aspecial name – endothelium. Epi- is aprefix meaning upon, but endo- meansinside, and since the epithelium that lines a structure is inside thestructure, it is called endothelium (epithelialtissue is on the outer covering and the innermost lining of the heart).
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Explain the characteristics and function of connective tissue. |
Connective tissue comes in many typesand one of it’s overall jobs is to connect. One type of connective tissue,called loose connective tissue or areolar tissue, is basically the body’spacking material – it fills spaces between structures and is often specialisedinto a type of connective tissue called adipose,or fat. Dense fibrous connectivetissue is very strong, and forms the tendons that anchor your muscles toyour bones and the ligaments that anchor your bones to each other. Cartilage isa shock absorber in many joints, where your bones meet. Bone itself is aconnective tissue, as is blood, which is perhaps the body’s ultimate connector.
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Explain the characteristics and function of muscle tissue. |
Muscle tissue comes in three types. Skeletal muscle provides body movementby attaching two bones. When a muscle contracts, it moves the bones to which itis connected, thus moving your body parts or your whole body. This is the onlytype of muscle you can consciously control, so it is called voluntary. Smooth muscle is involuntary and islocated in the walls of most of your internal organs and your blood vessels.This muscle moves materials through these structures automatically. Cardiac muscle which is locatedexclusively in the heart, is responsible for the contractions that continuously pump blood throughout your body.
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Explain the characteristics and function of nervous tissue. |
Nervous tissue is found in your brain, spinal cord and nerves. It sends signals toyour organs and controls their actions. For example, it tells your muscles tocontract, causes your glands to release their secretions and allows you tothink. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the integumentary system. |
The integumentary system includes your skin, hair, nails, and sweatglands. This system forms your body armour, providing a tough barrier. The skinprovides protection from potentially damaging substances such as bacteria orharsh chemicals. It helps regulate body temperature. It is also loaded withsensory neurons that gather information about what is going on outside of you,alerting you if there is a potential threat. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the skeletal system. |
Your skeletal system is primarily composed of your bones, but it alsoincludes the ligaments that hold them together, as well as cartilage and bonemarrow. Your muscles attach to it to produce body movement. It also protectssome of your most important organs, such as your brain, heart and lungs.Minerals, such as calcium, are stored in your bones. If the amount of calciumin your blood drops too low, calcium is released from the bones to maintainhomeostasis. And your blood cells are made in your bone marrow, so this systemis critical to your cardiovascular system. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the muscular system. |
The muscular system refers mainly to the skeletal muscles – the organs,and the tendons that anchor them to your bones. Your muscular system can moveyour whole body and also parts of it. Your muscles also protect otherstructures, and they produce heat, such as when you shiver, which helpsmaintain your body temperature. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the nervous system. |
The nervous system is composed of your brain, spinal cord and thenerves that go to and from them. This is one of your body’s control systems. Itcontinuously collects data in the form of sensory information about everythinggoing on inside you and around you. It decides if any of that incominginformation requires a response and, if so, directs that response. For example,it may cause glands to secrete chemicals that digest your food. The nervoussystem also controls our special senses of taste, touch, smell, vision, hearingand balance. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the endocrine system. |
The endocrine system includes your pituitary, thyroid and adrenalglands, your pancreas and your gonads (ovaries or testes) as well as otherorgans. This system secretes hormones, which are chemical signals that controlmany aspects of your physiology. It is involved in normal body growth and development,and in maintaining homeostasis, for example. Hormones coordinate the functionsof your various organs and regulate your body’s metabolism, which is the rateat which you use energy. Metabolism is the rate at which we use energy. They also control your reproductive activitiesand cycles. Your endocrine system is intimately linked to your nervous system.In fact, both systems reign over most body functions. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the cardiovascular system. |
The cardiovascular system circulates your blood, which delivers nutrients, hormones, water and oxygen, to the cells and carries the waste elsewhere in the body so it can be recycled or discarded. This system also helps regulate your body temperature and provides a common link between all cells. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the lymphatic system. |
The lymphatic system contains your spleen, thymus, tonsils, lymphaticvessels and lymph nodes. This system has two major jobs. It is an alternativereturn route that picks up extra fluid and materials from your tissues andreturns them to your blood, helping to maintain your blood volume and bloodpressure. The lymphatic system also keeps you healthy by fighting infection anddisease, and is also referred to as your immunesystem. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the respiratory system. |
Your respiratory system includes your nose, larynx (voice box), trachea(windpipe), bronchi and lungs. It is designed to bring air into and out of thelungs so that the blood can drop off the carbon dioxide it picked up from the cellsand pick up a fresh supply of oxygen. Blood from your lungs returns to yourheart and shoots out through your body so that the oxygen it just gained can beused by your cells to harness energy from your food, allowing your cells to dotheir work. This cellular process generates carbon dioxide that is picked up bythe blood and carried back to the heart to be routed back to the lungs toexchange gases once again. Your respiratory system is directly tied to yourcell’s energy use. In addition, air that passes across your vocal cords causesthem to vibrate, producing sound. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the digestive system. |
The digestive system includes your mouth, salivary glands, pharynx(throat), oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, small intestine and largeintestine. This system brings food into your body and breaks it down into smallmolecules that enter your blood. These molecules then provide nutrients,building materials for growth and repair and the chemical energy that yourcells use to do your body’s work. The digestive system also allows the body toget rid of wastes from the liver, as well as whatever you eat that is notabsorbed into your body. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the urinary system. |
The urinary system includes two kidneys, two ureters, the urinarybladder and the urethra. This system filters your blood, getting rid of wasteproducts and keeping what the body needs, thus maintaining homeostasis. It iscrucial for maintaining the proper balance of water, minerals, glucose, bloodvolume and pressure, and pH in your body. It’s role in ridding the body ofwastes led to it’s alternative name – the excretorysystem. |
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Explain the characteristics and function of the reproductive system. |
The reproductive system has different organs depending on your gender.Males have testes, epididymis, the vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, prostate gland,penis and scrotum. The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, uterinetubes (oviducts), uterus, vagina, clitoris, labia and mammary glands. |
