TRANSPORTATION (CIRCULATORY SYSTEM IN HUMAN BEINGS)

1. What are the consequences of deficiency of haemoglobin in the human body?

Haemoglobin present in the blood carries oxygen to all the tissues of the body. Deficiency of
haemoglobin leads to a condition called anemia in which the person experiences symptoms like
headaches, tiredness, weakness, breathlessness etc. The person looks pale and loses weight.

2. What are the functions of the blood?

3. What are the components of blood?

Blood has two major components namely a (i) Fluid component and a (ii) Cellular component.

Fluid component of blood is called Plasma. Major portion of plasma is water with dissolved
minerals, nutrients and soluble proteins.

The cellular component of blood includes

(i) Red Blood Corpuscles,
(ii) White Blood Cells
(iii) Blood Platelets.
 Red Blood Cells White Blood Cells Blood Platelets
(RBCs/erythrocytes) (WBCs/leucocytes) (Thrombocytes)

 RBCs are circular, disc-  They are irregular, colourless, Blood platelets are minute,
shaped and biconcave. and larger than RBCs. They oval or round, non - nucleated
 They are produced in the bone have a large and lobed nucleus. cells.
marrow of long bones.  WBCs are produced in the Platelets are formed in the
 Mature RBCs do not have bone marrow, lymph glands bone marrow.
nuclei. and spleen.  Blood platelets play an
 The lifespan of RBCs is 120  WBCs provide immunity. important role in blood
days.  The different types of white clotting.
 RBCs are made up of a iron blood cells are- neutrophils,
containing respiratory eosinophils,basophils,
pigment called haemoglobin. lymphocytes and monocytes.
Haemoglobin transports
oxygen from the lungs to
tissues

4. "It is necessary to separate oxygenated blood from deoxygenated blood". Explain.

d

The separation of the right side and the left side of the heart is useful to keep oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood from the mixing. Such separation allows a highly efficient supply of oxygen to the
body. It is useful in animals that have high energy needs, such as birds and mammals, which constantly
use energy to maintain their body temperature (warm blooded animals).

5. Write a short note on Blood vessels.

The blood vessels are tubes from which blood from the heart is carried to all parts of the body and
again brought back to the heart. There are three types of blood vessels - (i) Arteries, (ii) Veins and (iii)
Blood Capillaries.
 Arteries
Carry blood away from the heart to all
other organs
Generally carry oxygenated blood
(except for Pulmonary Artery)
They are thick-walled to withstand blood
pressure generated by heart
Arteries do not have valves in them
Arteries generally are deep seated
Veins
Bring blood into the heart from all other
organs
Generally carry de-oxygenated blood (except
for Pulmonary Vein)
Veins are generally thin walled
Veins do have valves in them
Veins are generally Superficial

Capillaries: -
 Capillaries are the microscopic blood vessels occur at the junction of arteries and
veins.
 The smallest blood vessels which are one-cell thick are called capillaries.
 Arteries, when enter into an organ, divides to form smaller vessels called arterioles.
 Arterioles divide again to form fine capillaries.
 The exchange of materials and nutrients between cells and blood takes place across
capillaries. The capillaries then unite to form venules and venules combine to become
veins.
6. The walls of the arteries are thick and elastic than veins. Give reason.
Arteries are the vessels which carry blood away from the heart to various organs of the body.
Since the blood emerges from the heart under high pressure, the arteries have thick, elastic walls. Veins
collect the blood from different organs and do not need thick walls because the blood is no longer under
pressure. They have valves that ensure that the blood flows only in one direction.
7. Define is Blood pressure.

The force that blood exerts against the wall of a vessel is called blood pressure. It is expressed in
the form of two values. (1) Systolic Pressure (2) Diastolic Pressure.
Systolic Pressure - The pressure of blood inside the artery during ventricular systole (contraction) is called
systolic Pressure. The normal Systolic pressure is about 120mm of Hg.
Diastolic Pressure - The pressure of blood inside the artery during ventricular diastole (relaxation) is
called diastolic pressure. The normal diastolic pressure is 80mm of Hg.
Blood pressure is measured with an instrument called sphygmomanometer. The average value of blood
pressure in human is 120/80 mm of Hg.
8. Explain the structure of heart with the help of a diagram.

Location  The heart is a muscular organ located in the chest cavity towards the
left side.

Size  In adult humans, it is about the size of one’s fist.

Covering  Covered by a double membrane called pericardium. It contains the

lubricating pericardial fluid.
 The pericardial fluid provides lubrication during the contraction and
relaxation of the heart.
 It also protects the heart from mechanical injuries.
Chambers of the heart  Internally, the heart is divided into four chambers:
 Two thin-walled upper chambers—left atrium and right atrium.
 Two thick-walled lower chambers—left ventricle and right ventricle.
 The superior vena cava brings deoxygenated blood from the anterior
part of the body, i.e. head, chest and arms, to the right atrium.
 The inferior vena cava brings blood from the posterior region of the
body, including the abdomen and legs, to the right atrium.
 The blood from the right atrium enters the right ventricle.
 From the right ventricle, the blood is sent to the lungs through the
pulmonary artery.
 Blood vessels leaving the  Four pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the
heart left atrium.
 From the left atrium, the blood enters the left ventricle.
 From the left ventricle, oxygenated blood is sent to all parts of the
body through the aorta.
Heart valves: - Heart  The tricuspid valve which has three projections or cups is located
valves prevent the between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
backflow of blood or  The bicuspid valve/mitral valve has two projections or cups and is
regulate the flow of blood located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
in a single direction.  The opening of the left ventricle into the aorta and the opening of the
right ventricle into the pulmonary artery is guarded by semi lunar
valves.

9. Describe how blood flows through the heart.

OR
Describe in detail about circulation in human beings.
 The circulatory system of humans consist of –
a. The heart - The pumping organ.
b. Blood vessels -
• Arteries
• Veins
• Capillaries
 Blood is pumped in heart due to rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart muscles. When
the muscles of the atria relax, the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the
different parts of the body via vena cava (superior and inferior).
 The left atrium too receives oxygen rich blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins.

De oxygenated Blood
Vena Cava Right Atrium
Oxygenated Blood
Pulmonary Vein Left Atrium
 The atria contract and pour the blood into the respective ventricles.

Right Atrium Right Ventricle

Left Atrium Left Ventricle
 Both the ventricles then contract resulting in pumping out blood from the heart.

 The blood from the right ventricle enters the lungs through pulmonary artery.
 The blood from the left ventricle enters the aorta (largest artery of the body) which carries
 blood to all parts of the body.
Right Ventricle Pulmonary Artery
Left Ventricle Aorta
 The valves present between the atria and ventricles ensure that the blood does not flow
backward.
 Thus the deoxygenated blood enters the right part of the heart and after oxygenation it enters
into the left side of the heart.
 The blood therefore goes through the heart twice during each cycle. This is known as Double
circulation.

10. Explain double circulation in human beings. What is the importance?

The circulation through heart is called double circulation as the blood passes through heart
twice in one complete cycle. It involves two circulations
Pulmonary Circulation
The course of blood from the right ventricle to the left atrium of heart through lungs is Pulmonary
Circulation. The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary trunk which carries it
to lungs for oxygenation. The oxygenated blood from the lungs is brought to left atrium by two pairs
of pulmonary veins.
Systemic Circulation
The course of blood from the left ventricle to the right ventricle of heart through body organs called
systemic circulation. The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood into the systemic aorta which carries
it to all body. The deoxygenated blood from the body organs is brought to right atrium by superior
and inferior vena cava.
 Importance of double circulation

Double circulation is a necessity for warm blooded organisms, which spends a lot of energy
for maintaining their body temperature. Warm blooded creatures are more active than the cold
blooded organisms, and hence their energy requirements are high. Thus they need a faster blood
circulation. In double circulation, since heart pumps the blood after oxygenation with very high
pressure, blood reaches the tissues and cells much more quickly. Moreover, the complete septum
between the right and left chambers of the heart prevents mixing up of oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood.
11. Cardiac Pacemaker: is a specialized muscle tissue which sends rhythmic electrical impulses to the
cardiac muscles so that heart contract and relax in a rhythmic fashion. The contraction of heart is
called Systole and relaxation is called Diastole.

ECG: Electrocardiogram/graphy is a technique to analyze the electrical activity in the heart. ECG
measures electrical signals in the heart using specialized electrodes, which helps to monitor the health
of the heart.
12. What is lymph and what are the functions?
When blood flows through the blood capillaries under high pressure, some amount of plasma,
proteins and blood cells escape into intercellular spaces in the tissues to form the tissue fluid or lymph.
It is similar to the plasma of blood but colorless and contains less protein.
Functions of lymph
a). Lymph provides proper nourishment to each and every cell, even to the cells lying farthest from
the blood capillaries.

b). Lymph removes metabolic waste materials from the cells.

c).Lymph contains white blood cells called lymphocytes. This improves the immunity of the body.

d). Lymph carries digested fat and hence play a role in fat metabolism.

Difference between lymph and blood

1. Blood always confined to blood capillaries while Lymph is direct contact with tissues.
2. Blood Circulation is a closed circulation while Lymphatic circulation is open circulation.
3. Blood contain more cells than lymph including RBCs and hence red in color. Lymph is
colorless or has a pale yellow color and do not contain any RBCs.
4. Blood flows bi−directionally (towards and away from heart) while lymph flows always
towards heart.
 TRANSPORTATION IN PLANTS
13. Explain transportation in plants.
Transportation in plants is the process by which a substance, absorbed or synthesized in one part
of the plant, is transported to the other parts of the plant.
Substances transported by the transport system are water, mineral and food prepared by plants.

Transportation system in plants consists of Vascular Bundles. There are two types of Vascular bundles
in Plants namely Xylem and Phloem. Xylem is dead while phloem is living tissue.

Vascular
bundles

Xylem Phloem

Trachieds companion
Vessels Sieve tubes
cells

Conduction through xylem

1. Xylem consists of Tracheids and Vessels.
2. Xylem functions as a conducting element for water and minerals.
3. Xylem is a dead tissue.
4. Root pressure and Transpiration Pull helps in conduction through xylem.
5. Xylem conduction is unidirectional, i.e., always from roots to the leaves.
6. Xylem conduction is a passive process where all the energy comes from the Sun during
transpiration.

Mechanism of Transport of Water and Minerals through xylem

Plants obtain Water from soil, which enter the plants through roots. Two mechanisms help the
plants to obtain water (1) Root Pressure and (2) Transpiration Pull.
(1) Root Pressure
 Water enters the root hair through osmosis, and mineral ions enter the root cells by active
transport.
 Both water and minerals move upward from cell to cell through the cortex of the root by
osmosis.
  From the cortex, water and minerals are brought to the xylem.
 The sap which contains water and dissolved minerals move upwards from the root cells to
xylem. The upward movement of sap is called the ascent of sap.
 The xylem vessels of the roots are in continuation with the xylem vessels of the stem.
(2). Transpiration Pull
 Transpiration is the loss of water in the form of water vapour from the aerial parts of a
plant.
 It occurs through openings called stomata.
 Water loss through evaporation lowers the concentration of water inside the mesophyll
cells.
 Due to this, water enters mesophyll cells from neighboring xylem vessels through
osmosis.
 As water evaporates from the leaves, a suction force is created. This force helps to draw
more water up through the stem which causes the roots to absorb more water from the
soil.
 Higher the rate of transpiration, greater the rate of absorption of water and solutes from
the soil. Transpiration also helps in maintaining the temperature of the plant body.

Conduction through phloem

1. Phloem consists of Sieve tubes and Companion cells.
2. Phloem functions as a conducting element for food and other prepared substances.
3. Phloem is a Living tissue.
4. Translocation helps in conduction through Phloem.
5. Phloem conduction is multidirectional, i.e., materials move from anywhere to anywhere as per
requirement.
6. Phloem conduction is an active process where the plants have to spend energy to transport the
materials from one place to the other.
Mechanism of Transport through phloem
 Unlike transport in xylem which can be largely explained by simple physical forces,
the translocation in phloem is achieved by utilizing energy.
 Material like sucrose is transferred into phloem tissue using energy from ATP.
 This increases the osmotic pressure of the tissue causing water to move into it. This
pressure moves the material in the phloem to tissues which have less pressure.
 This allows the phloem to move material according to the plant’s needs. For example,
in the spring, sugar stored in root or stem tissue would be transported to the buds
 which need energy to grow.
Translocation: The mechanism by which the conduction occurs in phloem is called Translocation.
Translocation is the process by which the prepared substances (including food) in the plants transported
from one part the plant to the other (like from leaves to stem and roots).