AS Biology F211: Transport in Animals

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Booklet completion: 2 weeks

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AS Biology >> F211 Transport in Animals

Use ZigZag PowerPoints on My.Sfc this module, textbooks and websites to complete this
booklet.
 This module covers these main topic areas:

 The Need for a Transport System in Animals

 Influence of Size and Activity
 Circulatory Systems
 Heart Structure
 Cardiac cycle
 Heart Valve Operation
 Pressure changes during Heartbeat
 Control of Heart Beat
 Electrocardiograms (ECG)
 Blood vessels
 Blood, Tissue fluid and Lymph
 Role of Haemoglobin-Transport of Respiratory Gases
 Dissociation Curves

As animals become larger and more active, transport systems become essential to supply
nutrients to and remove waste from individual cells. Controlling supply of nutrients and
removal of waste requires the co-ordinated activity of the heart and circulatory system.

What you need to be able to do: Completed Y/N

a) explain the need for transport systems in multicellular animals in
terms of size, level of activity and surface area:volume ratio;
(b) explain the meaning of the terms single circulatory system and
double circulatory system, with reference to the circulatory systems of
fish and mammals;
(c) explain the meaning of the terms open circulatory system and closed
circulatory system, with reference to the circulatory systems of insects
and fish;
(d) describe, with the aid of diagrams and photographs, the external and
internal structure of the mammalian heart;
(e) explain, with the aid of diagrams, the differences in the thickness of
the walls of the different chambers of the heart in terms of their
functions;
(f) describe the cardiac cycle, with reference to the action of the valves
in the heart;
(g) describe how heart action is coordinated with reference to the
sinoatrial node (SAN), the atrioventricular node (AVN) and the
Purkyne tissue;
(h) interpret and explain electrocardiogram (ECG) traces, with reference
to normal and abnormal heart activity;
(i) describe, with the aid of diagrams and photographs, the structures
and functions of arteries, veins and capillaries;
(j) explain the differences between blood, tissue fluid and lymph;
 (k) describe how tissue fluid is formed from plasma;
(l) describe the role of haemoglobin in carrying oxygen and carbon
dioxide;
(m) describe and explain the significance of the dissociation curves of
adult oxyhaemoglobin at different carbon dioxide levels (the Bohr
effect);
(n) explain the significance of the different affinities of fetal
haemoglobin and adult haemoglobin for oxygen.

Need for a Transport System in Animals

As you are already aware all animals must maintain a supply of materials they need (e.g. nutrients
and oxygen are required for respiration and growth) and remove the waste products of metabolism
(e.g. carbon dioxide, ammonium and urea). In small organisms such needs can easily be met by
diffusion and exchange can often take place across their body/cell surface. In contrast large active
organisms cannot rely upon diffusion as distances are too great and their surface area relative to
volume is insufficient for exchange.

Influence of Size and Activity

The following table outlines some of the relationships between size, activity and transport systems
in a range of animals. Complete the description to summarise the effect of size and activity level on
the need for and the type of transport system.

Organism Features/Description

Simple Multicellular,
Obelia belong to a group of simple multicellular animals known as Cnidarians (this
e.g. Obelia
group also includes jelly fish and corals). They have a sedentary life or very slow
movement so demands are _LOW_. Digestion takes place in an _ENTERON, but the
whole body surface may suffice for other exchange purposes. They lack a specialist
transport system because distances are _SHORT and demands are _LOW_.
Insect, e.g. dragonfly
Dragonflies are insects. They are _COLD-blooded but have an active life. Energy and
nutrient demands are high, especially during _FLIGHT. Insects have specialist exchange
surfaces: a _TRACHEAL_ system for gas exchange, digestive system, etc. They have a
cardiovascular system but blood is pumped into a _BODY CAVITY and a system of
tubes (the tracheal system) supply oxygen directly to respiring muscles.

Fish
Fish are COLD- blooded, but despite their generally low body temperature demands
can be high, e.g. swimming can create high demands. Fish have specialist exchange
surfaces: GILLS for gas exchange, digestive system, etc.

There is a cardiovascular system because distances are great and demands are high. In
contrast to the mammalian circulatory system, blood is pumped to gills first and then
onto the body in a SINGLE circuit.

Mammal, e.g. Orang-utan

Orang-utans are mammals. Like all mammals, body temperature is high – often higher
than ambient (environment). There are high demands for energy and nutrients and
consequently mammals have specialist _EXCHANGE SURFACES: LUNGS for gas
exchange, digestive system, etc. There is an efficient cardiovascular system because
distances are great and demands are high. There is SEPERATE circulation to the lungs
and body.

Circulatory Systems

Many animals need a circulatory system to transport food and nutrients to respiring cells and to
remove wastes. From GCSE you will already be familiar with the human circulatory system, which
consists of the heart (to pump blood to the lungs and to the body tissues) and the blood vessels
(arteries, capillaries and veins which take blood from the heart to the tissues where exchange takes
place and back to the heart). However not all circulatory systems are identical. Some circulatory
systems are open, i.e. blood goes from the heart into a body cavity (e.g. insects) whilst some are
closed, i.e. the blood flows through blood vessels and always stays in them – cells get their
requirements from the tissue fluid produced at the capillaries (e.g. fish and mammals). Some have a
single circulation, i.e. blood goes from the heart to the respiratory surface and then on to the body
(e.g. fish); some have a double circulation, i.e. there is a separate circulation to the respiratory
surface and to the body (e.g. mammals); some have a partial double circulation where blood from a
single ventricle enters a forked aorta for distribution to the body and gas exchange surface
(amphibians).
Open Circulatory Systems

Open circulatory systems are typical of arthropods and molluscs. Blood is pumped into a cavity or
haemocoel that bathes the organs. Cells remove nutrients from the haemocoel and excrete wastes
into it. Note: insects have a separate system (tracheal system) to supply respiring tissues directly
with O2.

The diagram shows circulation in an insect. Blood (haemolymph) is pumped towards the head or
anterior part of the body by a heart that is made up of a series of pumps. Blood drains through slits
in the vessel walls into the body cavity with supplies directed to major regions, e.g. head, wings and
legs. Cells take their requirements and excrete wastes into the blood as it passes between the cells.
Blood flows in a posterior direction and returns to the dorsal vessel through holes (ostia).

Heart consists of a series of pumps – blood

flows from posterior to anterior (towards Blood supply to
the head region) the wings
Dorsal vessel
(aorta)
– holes for blood to
re-enter

Diaphragm present in some insects.

Together with abdominal movement,
this helps move blood Blood supply to the
legs

Closed Circulatory Systems

Closed circulatory systems are typical of vertebrates, annelids and cephalopods. Blood is pumped
through a series of vessels which it never leaves. Tissue or interstitial fluid is produced that bathes
cells and from which the cells obtain their nutrients.
Fish have a single circulatory system. The
heart only has a single atrium and a
single ventricle. Blood is pumped to the
gills first where it is oxygenated. It then
travels onward to the rest of the body at
lower pressure. Such a system is
relatively inefficient but this is not much
of a problem since fish have a lower
demand for O2 and nutrients because
they are cold-blooded.

Q. Why is a single circulation inefficient?

 loss of pressure when blood goes

through capillaries

 pressure lower for onward travel to

the rest of the body

 Oxygen supplied at a slower rate to

body tissues.

Q. Why does being cold-blooded mean that

demand for O2 and nutrients will be lower
(compared to a warm blooded animal)?

Generally lower metabolic demand of fish (cold-

blooded) so not a problem
Humans have a double circulation, i.e. there is separate circulation to the lungs (pulmonary
circulation) and to the body (systemic circulation). The diagram shows the human circulation in a
simplified form. Briefly describe the circulation of blood in the pulmonary circulation and the
systemic circulation:

Pulmonary:

 blood pumped to lungs for oxygenation

 right atrium and right ventricle.

Systemic:

 blood pumped to the body tissues

 left atrium and left ventricle.

Q. Why is there a separate pulmonary and systemic circulation?

forked aorta for distribution to

 body

 lungs/skin

BLOOD SUPPLIED AT HIGH PRESSURE

Amphibians have a partial double circulation. They

have two atria – the right atrium receives
deoxygenated blood from the body whilst the left
atrium receives oxygenated blood from the gas
exchange surfaces (skin and lungs). Blood from both
atria enter a single ventricle which distributes blood
via a forked aorta to both the body and gas
exchange surface. Clearly oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood is mixed in the ventricle and
consequently blood travelling to the body is not fully oxygenated. However, amphibians may have a
lower demand for O2 and nutrients because they are cold-blooded.

Q. When blood leaves the forked aorta it is sent at high pressure to both the gas exchange surfaces
and the body. Why is this better than single circulation?

Complete the table to compare the circulatory systems of fish, amphibians and mammals.

Organism Type of System Brief Description of the System

The heart has a single atrium and a single ventricle. Blood is

pumped to the GILLS first where it is oxygenated. It then
travels onward to the rest of the body at LOWER pressure.
Fish
The system is relatively inefficient – not much of a problem as
fish are COLD blooded with lower demand for O2 and
NUTRIENTS

The right atrium receives DEOXYGENATED blood from the

body whilst the left atrium receives OXYGENATED blood from
Frog the gas exchange surfaces. Blood from both atria enter a
single VENTRICLE which distributes blood via a forked AORTA
to both the body and gas exchange surface.

There is separate circulation to the lungs PULMONARY

circulation) and to the body SYSTEMIC circulation).
Human Oxygenated blood is repressurised in the LEFT VENTRICLE so
that it can be delivered efficiently to the body tissues and
organs.

Heart Structure
You may already have some knowledge of the human circulatory system, which consists of the heart
and blood vessels. The heart is a muscular four-chambered pump that has the vital role of pumping
blood around the body. It is made of cardiac muscle – often thought of as a cross between
skeletal/striped muscle (powerful, but tires easily) and smooth muscle (not hugely powerful, but
doesn’t tire or fatigue).
Cardiac Muscle

Cardiac muscle has some structural similarity to striped muscle – striations are clearly visible in the
muscle cells. However adjacent cardiac muscle fibres interconnect, their plasma membranes make
very close contact and so allow electrical excitation to pass easily between cardiac muscle cells. Like
smooth muscle, cardiac muscle is myogenic and will contract rhythmically without nervous
stimulation. The net-like arrangement of cardiac muscle, close interconnections and the high
conductivity of the muscle itself mean that contraction can spread quickly over the heart.

The structure of cardiac muscle is shown in the diagram and micrograph:

Intercalated disc
Myofibril
Striations

Bridge

Nucleus
Space between fibres for blood vessels
and connective tissue

Q. How does the net-like arrangement of muscle cells and close contact between their
plasma membranes enable rapid spread of contraction through the heart?
 close interconnections

 high conductivity of the muscle.

 allow electrical excitation to pass easily between cardiac muscle cells

You need to be familiar with both external views and cross sections of the heart.
External View

The diagram shows the external structure of the heart as viewed from the front. Label the structures
and write a brief note about them (e.g. detail of what the structure does and/or why it is important).
Note: In examinations you mar be asked to annotate the diagram. In this case you should provide a
description of the stucture. Examining a real or a model heart may help with orientation.
Internal View/Vertical Section

Label the structures and write a brief note about them (e.g. detail of what the structure does and/or
why it is important).