2nd year biology.

chapter 02

Short questions

01. Maintaining the body at fairly constant level ensure healthy living. Justify the statement by
giving appropriate example?
Answer :
 In normal and healthy conditions, body can maintain a fairly constant levels of many
body variables, such as the body temperature,blood pressure, levels of respiratory
gases,glucose and other chemicals in the blood, etc.
Example :
 The body maintains its internal temperature between 98°F (37°C) and 100°F
(37.8°C). If your body temperature becomes too cold below (96°F) or hot rises above
(104 °F)it may lead to severe symptoms and even death.
02. In what way positive feedback can be harmful at times?
Answer :
 Most positive feedback mechanisms are harmful and in some cases resulting in death.
For example:
 If a person breathes air that has very high carbon dioxide content.
 The amount of oxygen in blood decreases while the concentration of carbon-dioxide in
blood increases.
 This is sensed by carbon dioxide receptors, which cause the breathing rate to increase.
 So the person breathes faster, taking in more carbon dioxide, which stimulates the
receptors even more, so they breathe faster and faster which ultimately results in
death.
03. Define the term anhydrobiosis?
Answer :
Anhydrobiosis :
 Anhydrobiosis refers to the characteristics of an organism to tolerate against strong
degree of dehydration by special metabolic and behavioral adaptations.
 These animals feed upon seeds of desert plants rich in carbohydrates.
 During the break down of these compounds, water is produced as by-product that is
utilized by these animals.
 Best example of these animals is kangaroo rat.
04. How regulations of blood flow to skin is meaningful to maintain body temperature?
Answer :
 The blood plays a role in temperature regulation.
 By changing the blood flow to the skin, the body can maintain its temperature by these
processes.
Vasodilation
Vasoconstriction
Vasodilation
 Increasing the amount of blood flow to the skin by widening the blood vessels
(vasodilation) allows more heat to be lost thereby reducing body temperature.
Vasoconstriction
  Narrowing the blood vessels (vasoconstriction) means less heat will be lost this way
thereby maintaining the core temperature of the body.
05. Why juxtamedullary nephron are more important in osmoregulation?
Answer :
Osmoregulation :
 Maintenance by an organism of an internal balance between water and dissolved
materials.
Juxtamedullary nephron :
 Juxtamedullary nephron refers to nephrons whose loop of Henle extend
deep into the renal medulla.
 Because Juxtamedullary nephrons regulate the concentrations of solutes and water in
the blood.
 The loops of Henle of juxtamedullary nephrons is largely responsible for developing the
osmotic gradients that are needed to concentrate or dilute urine.
06. State the role of ADH in controlling the proper concentration of urine?
Answer :
ADH:
 Anti-diuretic hormone is a peptide hormone.
ADH secretion :
 secreted by the posterior lobe of pituitary gland.
Role of ADH :
 When the body is deficient in water, hypothalamus detect a fall in blood solute potential
and direct pituitary to release anti diuretic hormone.
 This hormone increase the permeability of the distal convoluted tubules and collecting
ducts to water.
 More water is absorbed,reducing the volume of urine.
 When there is high intake of water, anti diuretic hormone release is inhibited.
 Due to which less water is absorbed and increasing the volume of urine.
07. How do some terrestrial mammals become so resistant that they are able to survive without
drinking water?
Answer :
 Some adaptations of terrestrial mammals enable them to survive without drinking
water.
 For example kangaroo rat, a desert animal live entire life without water due to the
following adaptations.
 Kangaroo rats has highly specialized kidneys with additional tubules, help them
in the conservation of water in the body through the extraction of water from
urine.
 The kangaroo rat has an oily coat and does not sweat which enables them in
conserving water.
 Kangaroo rats feed on seeds. The seeds once consumed are metabolized to
yield energy and water.
 The nasal passage also ensure minimal loss of moisture to the atmosphere.
08. What is the benefits of ESWL over PCNL?
Answer :
 Benefits of ESWL :
 Extra corporal shock wave lithotripsy leads to less complications and are safer method.
 Non invasive method means no skin cut is required.
 More successful method and easier to recover.
 Also used for stones that are stuck in ureter.
09. Why is the excretion of Uric acid advantageous to brids and reptiles?
Answer :
 The excretion of Uric acid to brids and reptiles is advantageous because:
 Uric acid is least toxic and least soluble in water.
 It can stored for longer duration in the body.
 It requires less water for excretion and thus helps to retain more water in
the body.