TRANSPORT IN ANIMALS

THE MAMMALIAN CIRCULATORY System

The circulatory system:

1. Supplies all cells within the body with absorbed food substances.
2. Supplies the cells with oxygen needed for respiration.
3. Gets rid of waste products from cells to the excretory organs where they can be
eliminated out of the body.

Why mammals need a circulatory system.

1. To provide rapid flow of materials from one part of the body to another over distances
where diffusion would be too slow.
2. Since the organism’s body size is big, the quantity of materials moving in and out of the
body is higher; hence diffusion alone will be inadequate as a means of their distribution.

The circulatory system consists of a pump[heart], tubes [blood vessels] and valves to ensure
one way flow of blood.

The mammal has a double/dual circulation, which consists of pulmonary circulation and
systemic circulation/circuit.

The dual circulation is necessary to separate oxygenated blood from deoxygenated blood, to
allow efficient supply of oxygen to the cells and removal of wastes from the cells to the
excretory organs.

Differences between pulmonary and systemic circulation

Pulmonary circulation Systemic circulation

1. Blood travels a shorter distance - Blood travels a longer distance [between

[between the heart and the lungs] the heart and the rest of the body]
2. Blood flows at a lower pressure - Blood flows at a higher pressure

3. Arteries carry deoxygenated blood/ - Arteries carry oxygenated blood/veins

veins carry oxygenated blood carry deoxygenated blood
From the lungs oxygenated blood is carried by the pulmonary vein to the heart and the from the heart also
oxygenated blood is carried ny the aorta to the rest of the body. From the rest of the body there is
formation or exchanged of oxygenated blood to deoxgenated blood by the venacava to the heart then from
the heart that deoxygenated blood is carried by the pulmonary artery to the heart to be oxygenated again.

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 PULMONARY ARTERY
PULMONARY VEIN

VENA CAVA AORTA

The structure of the heart PULMONARY ARTERY AORTA

VENA CAVA PULMONARY VEIN

LEFT ATRIUM

TRICUSPID VALVE SEMI LUNAR VALVE

BICUSPID VALVE

SEPTUM
LEFT VENTRICLE

RIGHT VENTRICLE

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The heart has the following parts:

4 chambers Blood vessels Valves

- Right atrium - Pulmonary artery - Tricuspid valve

- Right ventricle - Pulmonary vein - Bicuspid valve
- Left atrium - Aorta - Semi lunar valves
- Left ventricle - Vena cava

Functions of the parts

Part Function

Vena cava Carries deoxygenated blood from the rest of the body to the
heart [right atrium].
Right atrium Receives blood from vena cava and its muscles contract to
push blood into right ventricle.

Right ventricle Receives deoxygenated blood from right atrium and its
muscles contract to push blood into pulmonary artery
Tricuspid valve Prevents blood in the right ventricle from flowing back into
the right atrium
Pulmonary artery Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the
lungs.

Pulmonary vein Carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart [left
atrium]

Left atrium Receives oxygenated blood from pulmonary vein and its
muscles contract to push blood into the left ventricle
Bicuspid valve Prevents blood in the left ventricle from flowing back to the
left atrium
Left ventricle Receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and its
muscles contract to push blood into the aorta
Aorta Carries oxygenated blood from the heart [left ventricle] to the
body cells.

Semi lunar valves Prevent blood from flowing back into the ventricles

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MAIN BLOOD VESSELS

NAME OF BLOOD VESSELS

ORGANS FROM TO

HEART Pulmonary artery and vena cava Pulmonary vein and aorta

LUNGS Pulmonary vein Pulmonary artery

LIVER Hepatic vein Hepatic artery and hepatic portal

vein
KIDNEY Renal vein Renal artery

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Types of blood vessels

1. Vein
2. Artery
3. Capillary

Differences

Vein Artery Capillary

Structur Wider lumen /opening Narrower lumen Tiny lumen

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Thinner wall (less elastic tissue and Thicker wall (more elastic One cell thick hence
muscle fibres) tissues and muscle fibres) permeable (selectively)

Has valves No valves No valves

Function Carries deoxygenated blood from
the body parts/tissues to the heart
except pulmonary vein
Carries oxygenated blood
from the heart to the body
parts except pulmonary
artery.
A region where
substances are exchanged
between the blood and
body cells (e.g. food and
oxygen from blood to
body cells; carbon dioxide
and urea from body cells
to the blood)

 Arteries divide into arterioles (smaller vessels), which then divide to form capillaries (a
branching network of microscopic vessels passing between the cells of every living
tissue).

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  Capillaries join up to form venules, which then join up to form larger veins.

Pulse

Pulse is the surge/sensation of blood pressure felt when an artery is pressed against a bone.

Pulse rate is the rate at which blood flows in an artery. It is expressed as beats per minute.

The effect of physical activity on the pulse rate

Physical activity increases the pulse rate. This is because the rate at which the heart pumps
blood should increase to provide the body tissues with enough oxygen and glucose to release
energy needed for muscle contraction during the activity being undertaken.

Transfer of materials between capillaries and tissue fluid

There is high pressure in the arteriole region which forces part of the plasma from the blood
entering the capillaries to move out through the capillary wall forming a fluid around the cells
called tissue fluid. The tissue fluid is similar to plasma, but it does not have plasma proteins, red
blood cells and lymphocytes.

This fluid supplies the cells with dissolved food substances (glucose, amino acids, mineral salts,
etc.) and oxygen from the blood.

When the fluid returns back to the capillaries it contains waste materials, e.g. urea and carbon
dioxide, as the food and oxygen have been used in various chemical activities more especially
respiration.

The deoxygenated blood then leaves the capillaries through to the venules, then into the veins.

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BLOOD COMPONENTS

The blood consists of the following components.

1. Plasma
2. Red blood cells(erythrocytes)
3. White blood cells(leucocytes)
4. Platelets(thrombocytes)

1. Plasma

Plasma is the liquid part of the blood. It consists of 92% water and contains many
important dissolved substances e.g., end products of digestion (glucose, amino acids,
etc.); plasma proteins (albumin and fibrinogen); antibodies; hormones and waste
materials (urea and carbon dioxide)

 Plasma is responsible for transporting essential substances and waste products.

2. Red blood cells

Red blood cells are biconcave disc like structures formed in the bone marrow.
They transport oxygen around the body.

3. White blood cells

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 These cells are larger in size but fewer in number than red blood cells and have a
nucleus. The two most numerous types are phagocytes and lymphocytes.

Phagocytes
They are irregular in shape and can change their form. They have a lobed nucleus. The
cells can move by a flowing action of their cytoplasm and in certain situations can pass
out of the capillaries by squeezing between the cells of the capillary wall. They are made
in the bone marrow.

 They accumulate at the site of injury or infection and attack the invading bacteria and
damaged tissues. They ingest and destroy bacteria and dead tissue cells by flowing
around, engulfing and digesting them. This process is called phagocytosis. It helps to
prevent the spread of harmful bacteria as well as accelerating the healing of the
infected region.

Lymphocytes

They are smaller than the phagocytes and have a round nucleus which occupies most part
Of the cell. They are made in the spleen and lymph nodes. Each kind of micro- organism
contains substances called antigens. When a particular antigen gets into the body it
stimulates the lymphocytes to produce a corresponding protein called an antibody.

 The lymphocytes produce chemical substances called antibodies which attack foreign
substances. The antibodies can adhere to the surface of the micro-organism, making
them clump together or may cause them to disintegrate (break). The remains of the

4. Platelets

They are tiny irregularly shaped structures made in the bone marrow.

 They help in blood clotting in wounds or damaged blood vessel walls to prevent
excessive loss of blood and prevents entry of pathogens (disease causing micro-
organisms).

Formation of a blood clot

When the skin is cut, the blood flows out and when the platelets are exposed to air,
they break down and release enzymes which act on the soluble plasma protein
(fibrinogen) and convert it to an insoluble protein (fibrin). Fibrin forms a network of
fibres which trap red blood cells and form a blood clot, which seals the injured part.

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 Platelets break down when exposed to air.

Enzymes produced.

Fibrinogen fibrin

(soluble protein) (insoluble protein)

Trap red blood cells forming a blood clot.

Tissue rejection

This happens if a living tissue is transplanted from one individual to another, then the
recipient recognizes the foreign antigens in the transplanted tissue and destroys it.
Transplanted organs such as kidneys and hearts are rejected unless two individuals share
exactly similar antigens. This will normally only be the case if they are genetically identical.

Formation of a blood clot [triple sciences]

1. When the skin is cut and blood flows out, the platelets get exposed to air, then they
disintegrate and release an enzyme thrombokinase into the plasma.

2. Thrombokinase in the presence of calcium ions, found in the blood, changes the plasma
protein prothrombin to an active enzyme, thrombin.

3. Thrombin acts on the soluble plasma protein, fibrinogen and changes it to an insoluble
protein, fibrin, which forms a network of fibres around the injured part.

4. The red blood cells are trapped in the fibres forming a blood clot, which prevents
excessive loss of blood prevents the entry of foreign particles. The blood clot dries and
harden to form a scab under which the wound can heal.

Damaged tissue ------ platelets

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 Thrombokinase (enzyme)

Prothrombin Thrombin (enzyme)

(in presence of calcium ions)

Fibrinogen Fibrin
(forms a clot)

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