Transport in Humans

A set of 50 flashcards covering the key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on Transport in Humans.

Transport System

A mechanism to move materials between different parts of an organism's body.

Diffusion

The process by which substances move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a higher solute concentration.

Cardiac Muscle

A unique type of muscle found in the heart responsible for pumping blood.

Pericardium

A tough membrane that covers the heart and contains fluid to lubricate its movement.

Coronary Arteries

Arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself.

Atria

The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood.

Ventricles

The lower chambers of the heart that pump blood away from the heart.

Atrioventricular Valves

Valves located between the atria and ventricles that prevent backflow of blood.

Bicuspid Valve

The atrioventricular valve on the left side of the heart, also known as the mitral valve.

Tricuspid Valve

The atrioventricular valve on the right side of the heart.

Semilunar Valves

Valves located in the aorta and pulmonary artery that prevent backflow into the heart.

Oxygenated Blood

Blood that contains a high level of oxygen and is transported from the lungs to the body.

Deoxygenated Blood

Blood that is low in oxygen and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs.

Double Circulation

A type of circulatory system where the blood passes through the heart twice for each circuit of the body.

Pulmonary Circulation

The circulation of deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and back.

Systemic Circulation

The circulation of oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart.

Capillaries

Microscopic blood vessels that allow exchange of materials between blood and tissue cells.

Plasma

The liquid component of blood that carries cells, nutrients, and waste products.

Red Blood Cells (Erythrocytes)

Cells in the blood responsible for transporting oxygen.

White Blood Cells (Leukocytes)

Cells in the blood involved in the immune response and protection against infection.

Platelets

Cell fragments that play a key role in blood clotting.

Fibrinogen

A soluble plasma protein that is converted into fibrin during blood clotting.

Immune Response

The body's defensive reaction to foreign invaders.

Antigens

Molecules found on the surface of pathogens that trigger an immune response.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by lymphocytes that specifically bind to antigens.

Phagocytes

A type of white blood cell that engulfs and digests foreign particles.

Lymphocytes

White blood cells involved in the adaptive immune response.

Hypertension

A condition characterized by consistently high blood pressure.

Systolic Pressure

Blood pressure in the arteries during ventricular contraction.

Diastolic Pressure

Blood pressure in the arteries during ventricular relaxation.

Coronary Circulation

The flow of blood to and from the tissues of the heart.

Heart Murmur

An unusual or extra sound during a heartbeat, often indicating a problem with the heart valves.

Atherosclerosis

A condition in which arteries become narrowed and hardened due to buildup of plaque.

Stroke Volume

The amount of blood pumped by the heart with each beat.

Cardiac Output

The volume of blood the heart pumps in one minute.

Blood Clotting

The process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels that decreases blood pressure.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels that increases blood pressure.

Thrombosis

The formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel.

Stroke

A medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death.

Anemia

A condition in which there is a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood.

Leukemia

Cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, including the bone marrow and the lymphatic system.

Hemoglobin

A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms that can cause disease.

Virus

A tiny infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.

Immunity

The ability of an organism to resist infections.

Innate Immunity

The natural defenses the body has against infection, present at birth.

Adaptive Immunity

The immune system's ability to specifically recognize and remember pathogens.

Memory Lymphocytes

Long-lived immune cells that quickly respond to pathogens the body has encountered before.

Phagocytosis

The ingestion of bacteria or other material by phagocytes.

Innate Immune Response

Immediate, non-specific defense against pathogens.

Specific Immune Response

Targeted response initiated after exposure to specific pathogens.

Histamine

A compound released by cells during inflammatory responses that increases blood flow.

Inflammation

A localized protective response triggered by injury or infection.