Circulatory System
This blood vessel carries blood away from the heart
What is an artery?
This component of blood is 90% water and carries nutrients, wastes, and proteins like albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen.
What is plasma?
This hormone is released when the body is dehydrated and makes collecting ducts more permeable to water.
What is ADH (antidiuretic hormone)?
This valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle.
What is the mitral (or bicuspid) valve?
This large vein returns deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the right atrium.
What is the inferior vena cava?
What are the three types of circulation in the circulatory system?
What are systemic, pulmonary, and coronary circulation?
This is the reason why the secondary immune response is faster and stronger than the primary response.
What is: Because memory B and T cells are already present and quickly recognize the same antigen?
This toxic byproduct of protein breakdown is converted by the liver into urea for safe excretion.
What is ammonia?
This heart structure generates electrical impulses and is known as the pacemaker.
What is the SA (sinoatrial) node?
This structure transports urine from the kidneys to the bladder using peristalsis.
What is the ureter?
Put these in the correct order of blood flow: capillaries, veins, arteries, arterioles, venules
What is: arteries → arterioles → capillaries → venules → veins?
After being activated by Helper T Cells, these cells divide and either produce antibodies or become memory cells for long-term immunity.
What are B Cells?
What are the three processes involved in urine formation, and where does each mainly occur?
What are filtration (in Bowman’s capsule), reabsorption (mainly in the tubules and loop of Henle), and secretion (in the distal tubule)?
This chamber of the heart has the thickest walls because it must pump blood to the entire body.
What is the left ventricle?
Explain how vaccines protect the body from disease without causing illness.
What is: Vaccines expose the body to a weakened or inactive form of a pathogen, triggering an immune response and creating memory cells for future protection?
What’s the difference in structure and function between arteries and veins?
Arteries have thick muscular walls to handle high pressure and carry blood away from the heart; veins have thinner walls, lower pressure, and valves to prevent backflow.
Describe the process by which platelets form a blood clot, naming at least two key proteins involved.
What is: Platelets rupture and release thromboplastin and calcium ions, which help convert prothrombin into thrombin. Thrombin converts fibrinogen into fibrin, forming a clot.
Compare the roles of the descending and ascending limbs of the Loop of Henle in urine concentration.
What is: The descending limb allows water to leave the filtrate, concentrating it, while the ascending limb removes salts, diluting the filtrate?
These pressure receptors in the carotid sinus and aortic arch help regulate blood pressure by detecting changes in vessel stretch.
What are baroreceptors?
Explain why Rh incompatibility during pregnancy can be dangerous and how it can be treated.
What is: If an Rh-negative mother carries an Rh-positive baby, her immune system may produce antibodies against the baby’s red blood cells. This can lead to hemolytic disease of the newborn. It can be prevented with RHoGAM (anti-Rh serum) after birth.
Trace the full path of electrical conduction through the heart, starting from the SA node.
What is: SA node → both atria → AV node → Bundle of His → Purkinje fibers → both ventricles?
Outline the steps of the immune response starting with antigen detection and ending with immune system shutdown.
What is:
Macrophages detect and engulf pathogens → display antigens on their surface
Helper T Cells recognize the antigens → release cytokines
Cytokines activate B Cells and Killer T Cells
B Cells become Plasma Cells and produce antibodies; some become Memory B Cells
Killer T Cells destroy infected cells directly
Memory T and B Cells are formed for faster future responses
Suppressor T Cells slow and stop the immune response after the threat is eliminated
Trace the full path of urine formation through the nephron, starting at the glomerulus and ending at the collecting duct.
What is: Glomerulus → Bowman’s capsule → Proximal tubule → Loop of Henle → Distal tubule → Collecting duct?
This is the reason why blood pressure is highest in the arteries and drops steadily as it moves through arterioles, capillaries, and veins.
What is: Because arteries are closest to the heart and receive the force of its contractions. As blood travels farther, friction and vessel surface area reduce pressure, with veins having the lowest due to their distance and lack of muscular walls?
Compare and contrast the roles of the circulatory and lymphatic systems in fluid balance.
The circulatory system delivers nutrients and removes waste via blood. The lymphatic system collects excess fluid from tissues (extracellular fluid), filters it through lymph nodes, and returns it to the bloodstream to prevent swelling and maintain fluid balance.