Biology 120                     Lecture Handout : Respiration, Circulation                     R. Irwin

Respiratory System:
 


Circluatory System

Blood:


Blood vessels:


Characteristics of arteries, capillaries, veins
 
 
Function Properties of blood in vessel Structure
Arteries
 		    
Capillaries
 

   
Veins
 
 		    

The Heart: a double pump

Oxygen transport: Cardiovascular Disease:


QUESTIONS:

  1. The tube that carries air from the nose/mouth through the throat is called the _________________.  This tube splits into two tubes, called ______________; one goes to the right lung, the other to the left lung.  The lungs are made of many tiny sacs called _______________.  Why is it important that the lungs are made of many tiny sacs?
  2. There are two major categories of blood cell.  Blood cells that function as part of the immune system are called _________________.  The other major category of blood cell is __________________.  What is the function of these blood cells?
  3. The non-cellular, fluid portion of the blood is called ________________.  Give examples of substances carried in this fluid.
  4. Contrast arteries and veins with regard to (a) the pressure of blood within the vessel, (b) whether they take blood to or from the heart, (c) whether they take blood to or from capillaries, (d) the thickness of the walls of the blood vessels, (e) whether or not they contain valves.  For parts (d) and (e), explain the functional significance of the difference.
  5. Why is important that blood in the right side of the heart and blood in the left side of the heart not mix with each other?
  6. Trace the pathway of blood through each side of the heart.  Which blood vessels bring blood to the heart?  Into which blood vessels does the heart pump blood?  Which blood vessels carry blood to the lungs?  to the rest of the body?  Which blood vessels bring blood from the lungs?  from the rest of the body?
  7. Is blood in arteries typically high or low in oxygen?  Is blood in veins typically high or low in oxygen?  What artery and vein are exceptions to this general rule?
  8. From which type of blood vessel do nutrients and oxygen move to the tissues?
  9. What parts of the blood move through the capillary wall to and from surrounding tissues?  What causes these to leave the blood?  What causes these to return to the blood?  Why is it important to the function of blood that these materials can move through the capillary wall? What part(s) of the blood cannot move through the capillary wall and remain in the capillary as blood moves through it?
  10. Explain what it is about hemoglobin that makes it a good molecule for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.  Be sure to consider both how it will pick up oxygen in the lungs and how it will release it in the tissues.  Why are both of these important?
  11. What are the two most common cardiovascular disorders?
  12. What causes hypertension?
  13. Why is hypertension called the "silent killer?"  What does hypertension do that causes death?
  14. What can one do to decrease the risk of hypertension?
  15. What causes atherosclerosis?
  16. What is a stroke?  What is a heart attack?  How can atherosclerosis result in increase risk of strokes?  How can atherosclerosis result in increased risk of heart attack?
  17. Cardiovascular disorders are: a. the leading cause of death in the United States, b. second only to AIDS as a cause of death in the United States, c. an important cause of death in the United States, but less common than lung cancer, or d. a relatively unimportant cause of death in the United States
  18. The blood vessel that supplies the heart muscle with blood is the ___________________.