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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

LESSON 1.4
Transport of Nutrients, Gases, and Other Molecules
Table of Contents

Learning Competency 1

Learning Objectives 1

Suggested Time Frame 1

Essential Questions 1

Prerequisite Topics 2

Lesson Proper 2
A. Introduction to the Lesson 2
B. Discussion 10
C. Practice & Feedback 17

Assess Performance 17

Synthesis 21

Bibliography 21
Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Unit 1 | Respiratory and Circulatory Systems


Lesson 4: Transport of Nutrients, Gases and
Other Molecules

Learning Competency
At the end of this lesson, the given DepEd learning competency should be met
by the students.
● Explain how the respiratory and circulatory systems work together to
transport nutrients, gases, and other molecules to and from the different
parts of the body (S9LT-la-b-26).

Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Explain the mechanism of how the respiratory and circulatory systems
work together in transporting nutrients, gases, and other materials within
an organism.
● Determine the mechanisms of material transport through blood.

Suggested Time Frame


2 sessions (or approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes)

Essential Questions
At the end of this lesson, the student should be able to answer the following questions.
● How does hemoglobin help the red blood cell carry out its function?

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

● How do the respiratory and circulatory systems work together to provide vital
materials in the body?

Prerequisite Topics
The students should know the following prerequisite topics before proceeding with the
lesson.
● Parts and functions of the respiratory system
● Parts and functions of the circulatory system
● Diffusion and osmosis

Lesson Proper

A. Introduction to the Lesson


Start the lesson by introducing the following concepts and/or asking the provided
questions to the students. The suggested activities after the questions may also be done in
class. You may use any of the suggested activities below.

Link to the downloadable presentation slides: 1.4. Transport of Nutrients, Gases


and Other Molecules

1. Recall the concept of diffusion and how it induces the gas exchange to occur. Where
is the site of the gas exchange? What is the mechanism for the exchange of gases
between the alveoli and the blood in the capillaries?
a. The gas exchange specifically happens in the alveoli within the lungs.
b. The mechanism for the exchange of gases between the alveoli and the blood
in the capillaries is diffusion. Diffusion is the movement of gases from a
higher concentration to a lower concentration.
i. Diffusion in the lungs happens when there is a difference in the
concentration of oxygen or carbon dioxide between the air inside the
alveoli and the blood within capillaries.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

ii. Each alveolus is covered by a complex network of capillaries. During


inhalation, air goes to the alveoli and carries a rich concentration of
oxygen, which is higher than that of the blood in the capillaries. This
difference in oxygen concentration leads to the diffusion of oxygen
from the air into the blood. Similarly, the blood in the capillaries
carries a high concentration of carbon dioxide compared to the air in
the alveoli. Therefore causing carbon dioxide to diffuse from the
capillaries to the alveoli.

2. Identify the role of the circulatory system and the parts that work together to
perform its function. What is the circulatory system’s function? What are the
components of the circulatory system?
a. The major system responsible for the distribution and pumping of blood is
the circulatory system.
b. The components that serve as the transportation in the human body are
composed of the blood, the blood vessels, and the heart.

3. Recall the flow of blood inside the body. What are the two circulation loops? How does
the blood flow inside the body?
a. There are two major circulation loops namely the systemic and the
pulmonary circulation loops.
i. The systemic circulation loop is where oxygenated blood
(oxygen-rich, carbon dioxide-poor) is distributed into the body’s
systems (heart to the other organs).
ii. Coronary circulation is a part of the systemic circulation loop that is
the circulation of blood in the blood vessels of the heart muscle.
iii. The pulmonary circulation loop is when the deoxygenated blood
(oxygen-poor, carbon dioxide-rich) from the systemic circulation
returns to the heart. It enables the refilling of the oxygen in the blood
and the release of carbon dioxide.
b. The flow of blood in the systemic circulation is as follows:

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

i. Blood enters the heart via the two large veins called the inferior and
superior vena cava.
ii. The blood leaves the heart through the pulmonary arteries that lead
to the lungs.
iii. The oxygenated blood returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins.
iv. To prevent backflow of the blood, the heart has two valves namely the
tricuspid valve and the mitral valve. These two valves alternately
open and close during the pumping of the blood.
c. Use Option A to recall body reactions and relate them to the processes in
the circulatory system.

Option A: Once Upon a Time


In this activity, the students will recall body reactions and relate them to the
processes in the circulatory system.

Duration: approximately 10 minutes

Quipper Reference: Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems: Lesson 4:


Transport of Nutrients, Gases and Other Molecules

Procedure:
1. Identify which instances you can relate to, then recall your experiences.
2. Share your experiences with your seatmate.

The time when... My Experience

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

You felt dehydrated.

You had a fever.

You held your breath


underwater.

You skipped meal/s.

You ate too many sweets.

Guide Questions:
1. What exactly did you feel based on your experiences?
Students’ answers may vary.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

2. What do you think are the reasons for your feelings?


Students’ answers may vary.
3. How do you think your body reactions can relate to the processes in the
circulatory system?
Answer: The circulatory system helps in maintaining homeostasis in the
body.

4. Recall the function of the heart. How does the heart act as a pump?
a. The heart is composed of strong cardiac muscle tissues that continuously
contract and relax.
b. The heart plays a vital role in pumping blood throughout the body.
i. It has four major chambers: two atria and two ventricles.
ii. These four chambers are highly coordinated in pumping blood that
must deliver oxygen to the tissues and take carbon dioxide for
disposal.
iii. The valves in the heart prevent the backflow of blood.
c. Use Option B to reiterate the function of the heart in the body.

Option B: Picture Analysis


In this activity, students are asked to study a picture and relate it to the function
of the heart.

Duration: approximately 10 minutes

Materials:
● computer and LCD projector (option 1)
● printed copy of the two figures below (option 2)

Procedure:
1. Distribute copies of the two figures below or flash them on screen using
the LCD projector.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

2. Ask the students to study the two pictures below. With a seatmate, ask
them to discuss what the illustrations are depicting.

Fig. 1. Brain versus heart

Fig. 2. Brain-Heart balance

2. Ask student volunteers to share their analysis in the two figures.

Guide Questions:
1. What are the illustrations depicting?
Answer: The first illustration is showing the struggle of a person in choosing
what to follow, brain or heart. The second illustration shows a person

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

trying to balance the heart and brain or it tells us that in life, the heart
should weigh more than the brain.
2. Using your scientific knowledge, what is wrong with the illustration?
Answer: There should be no battle on what to follow since the only function
of the heart is to pump blood. The heart does not have any control over
emotions or decisions.

5. Recall the function of blood and describe the types of blood cells and platelets. What
is the role of blood cells and platelets in the body?
a. The blood is the most abundant body fluid in humans. It is responsible for
transporting materials and for immune defense.
b. Red blood cells take oxygen in the lungs and deliver it to the tissues. It also
transports carbon dioxide and releases it into the lungs.
c. White blood cells (WBC) are immune cells involved in protecting the body
against infectious agents and foreign bodies.
d. Platelets help in the clotting of blood during an injury.
e. Use Option C to introduce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Option C: Bleeding Love


In this activity, students are asked to identify the role of red blood cells, white
blood cells, and platelets in the body.

Duration: approximately 10-15 minutes

Material:
● gadget with an internet connection

Teacher’s Preparation:
● Prepare a worksheet with the lyrics stated below.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Procedure:
1. Click the link to watch and listen to the song in the following video. Then,
fill in the missing lyrics shown below.

User: Boyce Avenue. August 2018. ‘Bleeding Love -


Leona Lewis (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover) on Spotify
& Apple’’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69RW4vmSK4

Closed off from love, I didn't need the pain


Once or twice was enough, but it was all in vain
Time starts to pass, before you know it, you're frozen
But something happened, for the very first time with you
My (1) __________ melts into the ground, found something true
And everyone's looking around, thinking I'm going crazy
But I don't care what they say
I'm in love with you
They try to pull me away, but they don't know the truth
My (2) __________ crippled by the (3) ___________, that I keep on closing
You cut me open and I
Keep (4) ____________, keep, keep ___________ love
I keep ___________, I keep, keep ___________ love
Keep ___________, keep, keep ___________ love
You cut me open

2. Ask student volunteers to list the missing words on the board. Let the
students come up with one concept where all of the missing words are
related to.

Guide Questions:
1. What are the missing lyrics?

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Answer: The missing lyrics are (1) heart, (2) heart, (3) vein, (4) bleeding.
2. What body system are the missing words related to?
Answer: Circulatory system
3. What is the function of the missing words?
Answer: The heart pumps blood throughout the body, the vein is a kind of
blood vessel where deoxygenated blood flows, and bleeding refers to the
blood which transports nutrients and respiratory gases.

Teacher’s Notes
The activity is used to recall the components of the circulatory system.

B. Discussion
Using the jumping boards presented in the Introduction, start the discussion of the lesson
by using the flow below.

1. Discuss the two means of transporting materials through the blood. What are the
mechanisms of material transport through blood?
a. There are two means of transporting materials through the blood. It can be
through the plasma or by binding to the red blood cells.
b. The first means is the transport of materials via blood plasma. Blood
transports nutrients and hormones by dissolving these materials in the liquid
component of the blood, which is the plasma. The absorbed nutrients in the
digestive system are directly dissolved in the plasma for immediate
transport. Hormones are secreted by the hormonal organs into the blood
which mixes directly into the plasma. Waste materials like excess salts and
urea are also transported by the blood through incorporation into plasma.
c. The second means is the transport of gases via red blood cells. Gases like
oxygen and carbon dioxide can be transported in the blood plasma.
However, only a small portion of what is needed by the body cells can be

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

transported in this manner. For this, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport
heavily rely on red blood cells.
d. Use Option A to help the students have a background on the characteristics
of red blood cells.
e. Use Option B to help students realize how important blood is by organizing a
blood drive.

Option A: RBC’s Childhood


In this activity, the students are asked to describe the characteristics of red blood
cells.

Duration: approximately 15 minutes

Material:
● gadget with an internet connection

Procedure:
1. Click the link to watch a short video about red blood cells. Then, answer
the guide questions that follow.

Dr Hope's Sick Notes. January 5, 2019. Real DOCTOR reacts


to CELLS AT WORK! // Episode 6 // "Erythroblasts and
Myelocytes".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9RowPwvjGs

2. Divide the class into three groups. Each group should act on the scene
assigned to them. Remind the students that they should make their own
script based on how they understood the scene from the video in the link
above. Then, they need to relate the scene to the actual scenario in the
human body,
a. Group 1 - graduation day in the bone marrow

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

b. Group 2 - blood cells in the infant center or bone marrow


c. Group 3 - class with the teacher macrophage

Guide Questions:
1. Where are the premature red blood cells located?
Answer: In the red bone marrow.
2. What does the graduation day of little RBCs represent?
Answer: The graduation day represents enucleation where the core of the
erythroblasts is removed and becomes a mature red blood cell.
3. How does enucleation help the mature red blood cells to carry out their
function?
Answer: The enucleation will give red blood cells more area for carrying
respiratory gases.
4. What are hematopoietic stem cells?
Answer: Cells that produce blood cells such as white blood cells, red blood
cells, and platelets.
5. What is the role of the macrophages?
Answer: It plays a role in the differentiation and maturation of
erythroblasts.
6. What does the maze that the children played represent?
Answer: It represents the path where blood should circulate.

Teacher’s Notes
This activity can help students visualize the role of red blood cells.

Option B: Blood Drive


In this activity, the students are asked to organize a blood drive.

Duration: approximately 50-60 minutes

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Teacher’s Preparation:
● Talk to the local community blood center representative and the school’s
principal to set up a date for the blood drive.
● Set up meetings with the student members of the blood drive committee.
● Ensure all student chairpersons will fulfill their responsibilities.

Procedure:
1. Assign the following roles to responsible students.
a. Blood drive coordinator
b. Donor recruitment chairperson
c. Promotion chairperson
d. Site preparation chairperson
2. Divide the remaining students of the class into four groups. They will be
distributed to the four chairpersons and help with the responsibilities.
3. The role of the chairpersons and the members of the team are as follows:
a. Blood drive coordinator - prepare announcement flyers or posters
about the blood drive a week before the signup and prior to the
actual day of the blood drive as a reminder. The coordinator of the
team needs to ensure that the responsibilities of the three teams
are fulfilled.
b. Donor recruitment chairperson - recruit people who want to
donate. Prepare a signup list for the interested people and let them
provide their contact numbers so you could contact them on the
day or a day prior to the blood drive.
c. Promotion chairperson - ask permission from the principal before
putting the posters or giving fliers to students about the blood
drive. Coordinate with the school principal and local community
blood center if a seminar is possible to increase awareness on the
need for blood donation. You can also coordinate with the parent’s
association so you can also involve parents who want to donate
blood.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

d. Site preparation chairperson - make sure that the site where the
blood drive will be held is ready. Ensure that the place has enough
ventilation (electric fans or aircon). Do not forget to provide a table
and several chairs.

Guide Questions:
1. What personal learnings did you get from the blood drive activity?
Students’ answers may vary.
2. How important is the role of blood in humans?
Answer: It is responsible for the circulation of important nutrients and
respiratory gases in order for cells to function properly.

Teacher’s Notes
This activity can help students realize the importance of blood in one's body

2. Describe the features and role of hemoglobin. What does hemoglobin look like? What
is the role of hemoglobin?
a. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein present in the red blood cells. It
carries oxygen and carbon dioxide to the different parts of the body.
b. A mature hemoglobin consists of four subunits, each containing an iron
atom bound to a heme group. The iron atom is important as it is the one
that binds to the gas molecules.
c. When hemoglobin is loaded with oxygen, it can be referred to as
oxyhemoglobin. It is characterized by a bright red color. In contrast,
deoxyhemoglobin is the form of hemoglobin without oxygen that is purple to
bluish.
d. Use Option C to create a hemoglobin model.

Option C: Hemoglobin Model

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

In this activity, the students are asked to make a model of hemoglobin.

Duration: 10-15 minutes

Materials:
● needle
● two orange pipe cleaners
● two red pipe cleaners
● four red buttons
● thread

Procedure:
1. Ask the students to perform the following steps in order to
make a hemoglobin model.
a. Fold each pipe cleaner similar to the figure shown below.

b. Combine the four assembled pipe cleaners together using the


thread and needle.
c. Using a thread, attach one red button at the middle of each
assembled pipe cleaner.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

d. Ask student volunteers to present their model in front. Ask them to


describe the parts and function of their model. The questions
below can serve as a guide for the presentation.

Guide Questions:
1. What do the pipe cleaners represent?
Answer: It represents the four globin chains of hemoglobin.
2. Why are there two colors of pipe cleaner to make a model of hemoglobin?
What does it represent?
Answer: The two same colors of pipe cleaners represent an alpha chain
while the other two same colors represent the beta chain.
3. What does the red button represent? What is it for?
Answer: The red button represents iron. The iron atom is important as it is
the one that binds to the gas molecules.
4. Based on your model, how would you describe the structure of
hemoglobin?
Answer: The hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein present in the red
blood cells which consist of four globin chains.

Teacher’s Notes
This activity can help students remember the role of the hemoglobin.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

C. Practice and Feedback


Use the following strategies to assess student understanding. Ensure to provide immediate
feedback on the students’ responses or answers.

1. Ask the students to individually answer the following in their notebooks. The
teacher will ask a volunteer to recite his/her answer and check if the answer is
correct.
A. Identify what is being described in each item.
i. The liquid component of blood. Answer: plasma
ii. These are secreted by the hormonal organs into the blood which
mixes directly to the plasma. Answer: hormones
iii. These are round and flat cells with an indention in the center like
doughnuts without a hole. Answer: Red blood cells
iv. This atom is the one that binds to the gas molecules. Answer: Iron
atom
v. It refers to hemoglobin loaded with oxygen. Answer: oxyhemoglobin
vi. It is the form of hemoglobin without oxygen that is purple to bluish.
Answer: deoxyhemoglobin

Performance Assessment
Use the following activities to assess understanding.

Ask the students to individually answer the following in their notebooks.


I.
Afterward, it will be checked and graded.

A. Unscramble the letters to form a word. Then, write its function.

Scrambled word Word Function

1. S Y H O Y E R T R C E T

2. O N H M O L B E G I

3. A L A P M S

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

4. N R O I

5. Y N X G E O

Answer Key:

Scrambled word Word Function

1. S Y H O Y E R T R C E T Erythrocytes Transport materials at maturity

Iron-containing protein present


in the red blood cells which
2. O N H M O L B E G I Hemoglobin
carry O2 and CO2 to the
different parts of the body.

It transports nutrients,
3. A L A P M S Plasma hormones, and proteins to the
parts of the body that needs it.

The iron atom is important as


4. N R O I Iron it is the one that binds to the
gas molecules.

Respiratory gas that is needed


5. Y N X G E O Oxygen
in the body.

Use the Check Your Understanding section in the study guide. Students
II. may answer it in their notebooks, and they will be checked and graded
afterward. Choose only selected items if not possible due to time.
A. Identify how each given material is transported by the blood. Put letter A if it
is transported by the plasma and letter B if the transport is through the
hemoglobin of the red blood cells.
1. urea Answer: A
2. carbon dioxide Answer: B

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

3. progesterone Answer: A
4. glucose Answer: A
5. amino acids Answer: A
6. water Answer: A
7. salts Answer: A
8. oxygen Answer: B
9. testosterone Answer: A
10. creatine Answer: A

B. Explain the reason for each of the following occurrences then identify its
importance in the body.

Occurrence Explanation Importance

Oxygen and carbon


dioxide transport heavily
rely on the red blood cells

RBCs transport materials


at maturity

Purple to bluish color of


deoxyhemoglobin

The indention of the RBC


at the center

Nutrients are directly


dissolved in the plasma

Answer Key:
Occurrence Explanation Importance

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Oxygen and carbon The red blood cell


It is transported
dioxide transport heavily carries both the
systematically.
rely on the red blood oxygen and carbon
cells dioxide.

RBC during
It will have the space to
RBCs transport maturity has an
carry and transport
materials at maturity indention at the
materials.
center.

The color indicates


Purple to bluish color of It collects carbon dioxide
that it carries
deoxyhemoglobin that is toxic to the body.
oxygen-poor blood.

This allows the RBC


The indention of the RBC Materials can easily be
to carry vital
at the center distributed to the RBC.
materials.

Nutrients are The balance inside the


Nutrients are directly
immediately body is maintained at a
dissolved in the plasma
transported. sufficient rate.

IV. Additional worksheets during class when time permits or after class.

Recall Worksheet 10-item true or false quiz


(Level 1) Appendix A1. Assess-Recall Worksheet

Comprehension Worksheet 10-point short-response and computations


(Level 2) Appendix A2. Assess-Comprehension Worksheet

Application Worksheet 10-point short-response essay quiz


(Level 3) Appendix A3. Assess-Application Worksheet

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Synthesis
Use the following strategies to end the lesson.

1. Summarize and conclude the lesson by asking the following questions.


a. How does the blood carry all of the different materials to and from the cells?
Answer: There are two means of transporting materials through the blood. It
can be through the plasma or by binding to the red blood cells.
b. How does hemoglobin help red blood cells to carry out their function?
Answer: A matured hemoglobin is composed of four subunits, each
containing an iron atom bound to a heme group. The iron atom is important
as it is the one that binds to the gas molecules.

2. To further deepen understanding, you may also ask the following questions.
a. Why is the red blood cell enucleated?
Answer: The enucleation of red blood cells is an adaptation for its role. The
biconcave shape aids diffusion and allows the cell to have more hemoglobin
hence, more oxygen molecules.
b. Why is the blood-red in color?
Answer: The blood is red in color because of hemes, a subunit making up
each hemoglobin protein.

3. Read in advance the next lesson which discusses in detail the respiratory and
cardiovascular health.

Bibliography

Johnson, George B. and Peter H. Raven. 2001. Biology: Principles & Explorations. Austin: Holt,
Rinehart and Winston.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Mader, Sylvia S. 2014. Concepts of Biology. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

McLaughlin, Daniel P., Jonathan A. Stamford, and David A. White. 2007. Human Physiology.
London: Routledge.

Reece, Jane B. and Neil A. Campbell. 2011. Campbell Biology. Boston: Benjamin
Cummings/Pearson.

Riddel, Jennifer. 2012. Your Body's Systems. Pdf. Open School BC.

Weller, Alan. 2011. Human Anatomy. New York: Dover Pictura Electronic.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Appendix A1. Recall Worksheet


(with Answer Key)

True or False. Write true if the statement is correct and false if incorrect (10 points).

1. Red blood cells contain a nucleus. Answer: false


2. The red blood cells can carry respiratory gases through their hemoglobin. Answer:
true
3. Bone marrow is the site of red blood cell production. Answer: true
4. Deoxyhemoglobin is the form of hemoglobin loaded with oxygen. Answer: false
5. The white blood cells are more numerous than red blood cells. Answer: false
6. Hemoglobin consists of four globin chains. Answer: true
7. The size of the red blood cells is bigger than white blood cells. Answer: false
8. Substances such as hormones are directly transported via the fluid part of the
blood called plasma. Answer: true
9. Oxyhemoglobin is characterized by a purple to a bluish color. Answer: false
10. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein present in the red blood cells. Answer:
true

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Appendix A2. Comprehension Worksheet


(with Answer Key)

A. Short-Response Answers. Use the given figure to answer the questions that follow. (6
points)

1. What is the difference between the structure of oxyhemoglobin and


deoxyhemoglobin? Answer: Oxyhemoglobin has a relaxed binding structure while
deoxyhemoglobin has a tight binding structure.
2. How many oxygen molecules are attached to hemoglobin if it is completely
saturated? Answer: 4 oxygen molecules
3. If the hemoglobin is 75% saturated, how many oxygen molecules are bound to
hemoglobin? Answer: 3 oxygen molecules
4. What organ of the body does oxygen bind to hemoglobin? Answer: Oxygen is added
to hemoglobin molecules in the lungs.
5. Where do the oxygen molecules bound to hemoglobin be released? Answer: The
oxygen molecules will be released to the capillary beds of the various tissues and
organs of the body.

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

6. How many oxygen molecules are carried on 100 molecules of hemoglobin that are
completely saturated? Answer: 400 molecules of oxygen.

B. Computations. The table provided below presents information on common


parameters used in calculating blood levels (4 points).

Parameter Normal Value

Number of hemoglobin molecules per red blood cell 250 million molecules

Number of red blood cells per deciliter (dL) of blood


500 billion cells
(There are 10 deciliters in 1 liter of blood)

Mass of hemoglobin in a deciliter (dL) of blood 15 grams (g)

Amount of oxygen that 1 gram of hemoglobin can


1.34 milliliters (mL)
hold (carry) when 100% saturated

1. Calculate the mass of hemoglobin in 1 liter of blood.


Answer: 150 grams of hemoglobin.
2. If the hemoglobin is 100% saturated, how many oxygens (in milliliters) could be
carried in 1 deciliter of blood? Answer: 1.34 milliliters x 15 = 20.1 mL.
3. How many hemoglobin molecules are present in 1000 red blood cells?
Answer: 250 million molecules x 1000 red blood cells = 250 billion hemoglobin
molecules.
4. Identify the number of red blood cells in half a liter of blood. Just show the equation
on how to obtain the answer. No need to solve it.
Answer: 500 billion cells x 5 (since half a liter is the same as 5 deciliters).

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Grade 9 • Unit 1: Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

Appendix A3. Application Worksheet


(with Answer Key)

Short-Response Essay. Provide concise and accurate answers to the following questions (5
points for each item).

1. Beans, tofu, baked potatoes, and cashews are examples of foods that are rich in
iron. Do you think it is important to get enough iron in your diet? Why or why not?

Answers: Iron has several advantages such as healthy pregnancy, increased energy,
and better athletic performance. However, too much iron could elevate the risk for
liver cancer and diabetes.

2. Doping is where people are injected with erythropoietin. The result will be an
increase in the number of red blood cells in the body. This is done to improve the
ability to obtain oxygen to the cells of the muscle. Do you think blood doping should
be allowed in athletics? Why or why not?

Answers: If doping will be allowed in sports, the competition will no longer depend
on the humane natural strength and endurance but science and medicine instead
since the more medicine the athlete uses, the more advantage the athlete has.

26

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