Chapter 1 ( Transport )

Organisms that are small in size have a large total surface area to volume (TSA/V) ratio,while
large organisms have a small TSA/V ratio.Hence, the rate of diffusion is higher in small size
organisms than the large ones.

Unicellular organisms my obtain their nutrients and oxygen by diffusion alone but multicellular
organisms are more complex and bigger in size. Thus, they nedd a specialised transport the
nutrients and oxygen to the body cells.

The three components of circulatory system in human and animals are the blood
(medium),blood vessel (vessels) and the heart (pump).

The human blood consists of plasma and blood cells.

 There are three types of blood cells:erythrocytes, leucocytes and platelets .

Plasma contains water and dissolved substance such as minerals, plasma protein, vitamins,
digested food materials nitrogenous waste products hormones and dissolved gases.

Blood is the medium of transported.

Oxygen is transported to all the body cells in the from of oxyhaemoglobin.

 Carbon dioxide is transported in the from bicarbonate ions in the plasma and
carbaminohaemoglobin in the erthrocytes

Humans have a double closed and complete circulatory   system

Amphibians have a double closed and incomplete circulatory system.

Fish have a closed and single circulatory system, while insects have an open circulatory system.

Blood clotting prevents serious blood loss, prevents the entry of microorganisms and foreign
particles into the body maintains blood pressure and flow of blood in a closed circulatory system

The mechanism of blood clotting involves thrombokinase, prothrombin, vitamin k, calcium ions,
thrombin and fibrinogen.

High hydrostatic pressure of the blood capillary forces certain materials in the plasma to filter
out of the blood capillary and fill up the spaces between the body cells. The fluid formed is called
interstitial fluid or tissue fluid.

The lymphatic system complements the circulatory system in the function of transport by
transporting substances in the lymph, especiaslly fatty acids, glycerol and vitamins A,D,E and K
back to the circulatory system.

The lymph nodes produce antibodies to act against the antigents.

There are three lines of teh body's defence mechanism:

            (a) the fist line of defence (skin,mocous membrane)

            (b) the second line of defence (phogocytes)
            (c) the third line of defence (lymohocytes)
    

Active immunity involves the production of antibodies by lymphocytes, while passive

immunity  involves the administration of antibodies into the body from other sources.
 Figure below show the summary of the immunity mentioned:

                                                   

  Natural active immunity is acquired when a person has recovered from an infection.

Artificial active immunity is acquired through the injection of vaccine.

Natural passive immunity is acquired by the offspring from the mother through the placenta of
the foetus or the breast milk.

Artificial passive immunity is acquired through the injection of serum which contains
antibodies.

A healthy cardiovascular system depends on the nutrition and lifestyle of an individual.

The transport system in plants is the vascular system, which consists   of vascular tissue such as
xylem tissue and phloem tissue

Xylem tissue transport water and minerals from the root to the leaves and provide mechanical
support for the plant.

The phloem tissue is to transport organic substance from the leaves to all parts of the plants.
 Phloem tissue consists of two types of cells for transport,namely sieve tubes and companion
cells.

  In dicotyledon root, the xylem tissue is arranged in the shape of a star in the middel of the
root.The phloem tissue is arranged outside the xylem but alternate with (Figure 1).

  In dicotyledon stem, the xylem tissue and phloem tissue are arranged in a unit called Vascular
bundle.

  In each vascular bundle, the cambium tissue is located between the xylem tissue and the
phloem tissue (Figure 2)

                                   

                                                                 Figure 1                                                                   
Figure 2

Sieve tubes of the phloem tissue transport the product of photosynthesis through a process
called translocation.

Transpiration is the process where water is lost from the leaves in the form of water vapour
through the stomata in the leaf.

Environmental factors that affect the rate of transpiration are temperature, light intensity,
relative humidity and air movement.

The movement of water in the xylem tissues of the plant is due to transpiratianal pull (suction
force), root pressure and capillary action (as a result of cohesion and adhesion of water.

The movement of water from the soil into the root hairs and through the cortex cells in the root
is by osmosis.The movement of water through the mesophyll cells in the leaf is also by osmosis.